It showed itself quite willing, however, to accept a formal
invitation to a good dinner at her house.
She telephoned to the Senate and to a club, but Volterra could not be
found. Then she went to dress, giving orders that Sabina was to be
sent to her the moment she came in. She was very angry, and her sallow
face was drawn into severe angles; she scolded her maid for
everything, and rustled whenever she moved.
At last the Baron came home, and she learned who Sassi was. Volterra
was very much surprised, but said that Sassi must have come for Sabina
in connection with some urgent family matter. Perhaps some one of her
family had died suddenly, or was dying. It was very thoughtless of
Sabina not to leave a word of explanation, but Sassi was an eminently
respectable person, and she was quite safe with him.
The Baron ate his dinner, and repeated the substance of this to his
wife before the servants, whose good opinion they valued. Probably
Donna Clementina, the nun, was very ill, and Sabina was at the
convent. No, Sabina did not love her sister, of course; but one always
went to see one's relations when they were dying, in order to forgive
them their disagreeable conduct; all Romans did that, said the
Baroness, and it was very proper. By and by a note could be sent to
the convent, or the carriage could go there to bring Sabina back.
Pages:
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255