towards her again, his face slightly flushed, but composed.
"Pardon me," said he, "what is the lady's name?"
"Whose, Signora Dessalle's?"
"Yes."
"Her name is Jeanne."
"About what age is she?"
"I do not know. I should say from thirty to thirty-five."
Maria was now completely at a loss to understand. The Padre put these questions with such indifference, such calmness! She herself risked a question.
"Do you know her, Padre?"
Don Clemente made no answer. At this point poor, gouty Dane arrived, having dragged himself up from the gate with great difficulty, leaning on Professor Minucci's arm. They were both intimate friends, and Signora Selva welcomed them kindly, but in a somewhat absent manner.
The meeting was held in Giovanni's little study. It was very small and as—out of regard for Dane and his rheums—the windows could not be opened, the fiery Don Fare felt he should stifle, and said as much, in his outspoken Lombard fashion. The others pretended not to have heard, except Leyni who signed to him not to insist, and Giovanni, who opened the door leading to the corridor, and the one beyond opening upon the terrace.
