In
a moment the door was reopened.
"Signora, I have told the Signorina."
"What did she say?"
Gaspare looked at the Marchese as he answered.
"Signora, the Signorina said to me, 'Please tell Madre that I cannot
come to see the Signor Marchese.' "
"You can go, Gaspare."
He looked at the angry flush on the Marchesino's cheeks, and went out.
"Good-bye, Marchese."
Hermione got up. The Marchesino followed her example. But he did not
go. He stood still for a moment in silence. Then he lifted his head up
with a jerk.
"Signora," he said, in a hard, uneven voice that betrayed the
intensity of his excitement, "I see how it is. I understand perfectly
what is happening here. You think me bad. Well, I am like other men,
and I am not ashamed of it--not a bit. I am natural. I live according
to my nature, and I do not come from your north, but from Naples--from
Naples." He threw out his arm, pointing at a window that looked
towards the city. "If it is bad to have the blood hot in one's veins
and the fire hot in one's head and in one's heart--very well! I am
bad.
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