"For the best of all reasons. Because she repeatedly refused to receive
me." He was less inclined to take offence now than five minutes earlier.
"I see that your information was not complete."
"No. I was not aware of that. She must have had a good reason for not
seeing you."
"Possibly."
"But you cannot guess what the reason was?"
"Yes--and no. It depends upon her character, which I do not pretend to
understand."
"I understand it well enough. I can guess at the fact. You made love to
her, and one fine day, when she saw that you were losing your head, she
quietly told her servant to say that she was not at home when you
called. Is that it?"
"Possibly. You say you know her well--then you know whether she would
act in that way or not."
"I ought to know. I think she would. She is not like other women--she
has not the same blood."
"Who is she?" asked Orsino, with a sudden hope that he might learn the
truth.
"A woman--rather better than the rest--a widow, too, the widow of a man
who never was her husband--thank God!"
Spicca slowly refilled and emptied his goblet for the tenth time.
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