And yet he was angry with her,--doubted whether he
did not rather hate her than love her.
At last he started from his chair and swore that he would retain the
mastery over his own self; that he would think no more of the
abominable woman,--see her no more!
Taking his hat he rushed out of the house, with an instinctive
desire for bodily movement as a means of stilling the tossing fever
that was raging within him; walked through the streets at such an
unusual pace, that the people turned round to look after him as he
passed; walked by the door of the house in the Via di Santa Eufemia
in which Paolina lived,--saw Ludovico coming from it, who was
surprised indeed at thus seeing his uncle; and more surprised still
to find, that the Marchese passed him without seeming to notice
him,--walked out into the country, and returned only at supper-time,
tired and worn out; and then, when the supper was over, and Ludovico
had gone out to the Circolo as usual, after pacing his room, and
swearing to himself at every turn, that he would see the creature no
more,--slunk out of his own palazzo, feeling afraid of being seen by
his own servants, and wandered to her lodging!
And what were Bianca's meditations, when the business visit of the
impresario was over, and he and the Marchese left her room together?
First and foremost, the Marchese Lamberto was in love with her; and
that not as dozens of youngsters in many a city had been; but madly,
desperately, in love with her.
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