otice that it was shining here when we came
home," she added thoughtfully, not by any means satisfied with the
insufficient demonstration he had given her at first.

"No doubt," replied San Miniato indifferently. He took no further
interest in the movements of the satellite since he had gained his
point, and the Marchesa was far too lazy to revive the discussion. "I am
glad you agree with me about my behaviour," he continued. "It is of
course most important to maintain as much as possible the good
impression I was so fortunate as to make last night, and I have had
enough experience of the world to know that it will not be an easy
matter."

"No, indeed--and with Beatrice's character, too!"

"The most charming character I ever met," said San Miniato with
sufficient warmth. "But young, of course, as it should be and subject to
the enchanting little caprices which belong to youth and beauty."

"Yes, which always belong to youth and beauty," assented the Marchesa.

"And I am quite prepared, for instance, to be treated coldly to-day and
warmly to-morrow, if it so pleases the dear young lady. She will always
find me the same."

"How good you are, dearest friend!" exclaimed the Marchesa, thoroughly
understanding what he meant, and grateful to him for his tact, which was
sometimes, indeed, of the highest order.

"It would be strange if I were not happy and satisfied," he answered,
"and ready to accept gratefully the smallest favour with which it may
please Donna Beatrice to honor me."

He was indeed both happy and satisfied, for he saw no reason to suppose
that the Granmichele fortune could now slip from his grasp. Moreover he
had considerable confidence in himself and his powers, and he thought it
quite probable that the scene of the previous evening might before long
be renewed with more lasting effect. Beatrice was young and capricious;
there is nothing one may count on so surely as youth and caprice.
Caprice is sure to change, but who is sure that the faith kept for ten
years will not? In youth love is sure to come some day, but when that
day is past is it ever sure that he will come again? San Miniato knew
these things and many more like them, and was wise in his generation as
well as a man of the world, accustomed to its ways from his childhood
and nourished with the sour milk of its wisdom from his earliest youth
upward.

So he quietly conveyed to the Marchesa the information that he
understood Beatrice's prese