Alpha Book

A beautiful dinner--half a dozen clever men, all
interested in the affairs of the day, and all anxious to explain them to
me because I was a stranger. A hundred people or so in the evening, who
all seemed to enjoy themselves as much as I did. Why should I refuse all
that? Because my first acquaintance in Rome--who was Gouache--is so
'indifferent,' and because you--my second--are a pronounced clerical?
That is not reasonable."
"I do not pretend to be reasonable," said Orsino. "To be reasonable is
the boast of people who feel nothing."
"Then you are a man of heart?" Maria Consuelo seemed amused.
"I make no pretence to being a man of head, Madame."
"You are not easily caught."
"Nor Del Ferice either."
"Why do you talk of him?"
"The opportunity is good, Madame. As he is just gone, we know that he is
not coming."
"You can be very sarcastic, when you like," said Maria Consuelo. "But I
do not believe that you are as bitter as you make yourself out to be. I
do not even believe that you found Del Ferice so very disagreeable as
you pretend.


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