He had talked much as a man does who has read up an unfamiliar subject
in order to make a speech about it, and though the speech is skilful,
an expert can easily detect the shallowness of attainment behind it.
There could be only one reason why any one should take so much
trouble; the object was evidently to make Malipieri's acquaintance, in
the absence of an ordinary introduction. And yet Signor Bruni had
quite forgotten to give his card with his address, as almost any
Italian would have done under the circumstances, whether he expected
the meeting to be followed by another or not. Malipieri spent most of
his time in his rooms, but he knew very well that he might go about
Rome for weeks and not come across the man again.
He recalled the whole conversation. He had in the first place expected
that Bruni would be inquisitive about the palace, and perhaps ask to
be shown over it, but it was only at the last that he had put one or
two questions which suggested an interest in the building, and then he
had at once taken the hint given him by Malipieri's cold tone, and had
not persisted. On the other hand he had looked carefully at the titles
of the books on the shelves, as if in search of something.
Then Malipieri was conscious again of the association, in his own
mind, between the man's personality and his own political experiences,
and he suddenly laughed aloud.
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