Alpha Book

Quite
dead--but do not say that I was afraid--"
"Afraid? With, a Saracinesca and a Gouache to defend your life, Madame?
You are not serious."
Orsino took his hat.
"I shall be back in a quarter of an hour," he said, as he bowed and went
out.
Madame d'Aragona watched his tall young figure till he disappeared.
"He does not lack spirit, your young friend," she observed.
"No member of that family ever did, I think," Gouache answered. "They
are a remarkable race."
"And he is the only son?"
"Oh no! He has three younger brothers."
"Poor fellow! I suppose the fortune is not very large."
"I have no means of knowing," replied Gouache indifferently. "Their
palace is historic. Their equipages are magnificent. That is all that
foreigners see of Roman families."
"But you know them intimately?"
"Intimately--that is saying too much. I have painted their portraits."
Madame d'Aragona wondered why he was so reticent, for she knew that he
had himself married the daughter of a Roman prince, and she concluded
that he must know much of the Romans.


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