But there was something more, which Sabina recognized at the first
glance. She felt instantly that he was not like the Baron and his
wife; that he belonged in some way to the same variety of humanity as
herself; that she would understand him when he spoke, that she would
often feel intuitively what he was going to say next, and that he
would understand her.
She listened while he talked to the Baroness. He had a slight Venetian
accent, but his voice had not the soft Venetian ring. It was a little
veiled, and though not at all loud it was somewhat harsh. Sabina did
not dislike the manly tone, though it was not musical, nor the
Venetian pronunciation, although that was unfamiliar. In countries
like Italy and Germany, which have had many centres and many
historical capital cities, almost all educated people speak with the
accents of their several origins, and are rather tenacious of the
habit than anxious to get rid of it, generally maintaining that their
own pronunciation is the right one.
"Signor Malipieri," said the Baron to Sabina, as they went in to
dinner, "is the celebrated archaeologist."
"Yes," Sabina answered, as if she knew all about him, though she had
never heard him mentioned.
Malipieri probably overheard the Baron's speech, but he took no notice
of it. At dinner, he seemed inclined to be silent.
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