CHAPTER X.
At the Palazzo Giustiniani that evening, Andrea said to Ippolita Albonico, 'Well then, it is a fixed thing that I expect you to-morrow between two and five ?' She would like to have said: 'Then you are not going to fight to-morrow ?' but she did not dare.
'I have promised,' she replied.
A minute or two afterwards, her husband came up to Andrea and taking his arm with much effusion, began asking particulars about the duel.

He was a youngish man, slim, with very thin fair hair and colourless eyes and projecting teeth.

He had a slight stammer.
'Well, well--so it is to come off to-morrow, is it ?' Andrea could not repress his disgust, and let his arm hang loosely at his side to show that he was in no mood for these familiarities.

Seeing the Baron di Santa Margherita enter the room, he disengaged himself quickly.
'Excuse me, Count,' he said, 'I want to speak to Santa Margherita.' The Baron met him with the assurance that all was in order.

'Very good--at what hour ?' 'Half-past ten at the Villa Sciarra.