Alpha Book

And moreover, this
desolation was his own peculiar property, by deed of purchase, and he
could not get rid of it.
Meanwhile Andrea Contini stood beside him, examining the scaffoldings
with his bright brown eyes, in no way disconcerted by the prospect.
"Shall we go in?" he asked at last.
"Do unfinished houses always look like this?" inquired Orsino, in a
hopeless tone, without noticing his companion's proposition.
"Not always," answered Contini cheerfully. "It depends upon the amount
of work that has been done, and upon other things. Sometimes the
foundations sink and the buildings collapse."
"Are you sure nothing of the kind has happened here?" asked Orsino with
increasing anxiety.
"I have been several times to look at it since the baker died and I have
not noticed any cracks yet," answered the architect, whose coolness
seemed almost exasperating.
"I suppose you understand these things, Signor Contini?"
Contini laughed, and felt in his pockets for a crumpled paper box of
wax-lights.


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