shook with
the deep vibration that sometimes pleased Beatrice. He paused a moment
and then went on.

"I, who have quite other thoughts. And so he said with himself,
'Ruggiero loves and is afraid to speak, but I will speak for him.' But
it was honest of him, Signorina, for he loved her himself. And so he
asked her for me first. But she would not. And then, between one word
and another, they found out that they loved. And I am very glad, for
Teresina is a good girl as she showed the other day in the garden, and
the little boy of the Son of the Fool saw it when she threw the gold at
that man's feet--"

He stopped again, suddenly realising what he was saying. But Beatrice,
quick to suspect, saw the look of pained embarrassment in his face and
almost guessed the truth. She grew pale by degrees.

"What man?" she asked shortly.

Ruggiero turned his head and looked away from her, gazing out to
seaward.

"What was the man's name?" she asked again with the stern intonation
that anger could give her voice.

Still Ruggiero would not speak. But his white face told the truth well
enough.

"On what day was it?" she enquired, as though she meant to be answered.

"It was the day when you talked with me about my name, Signorina."

"At what time?"

"It must have been between midday and one o'clock."

Beatrice remembered how on that day San Miniato had given a shallow
excuse for not remaining to breakfast at that hour.

"And what was his name?" she now asked for the third time.

"Excellency--Signorina--do not ask me!" Ruggiero was not good at lying.

"It was the Conte di San Miniato, Ruggiero," said Beatrice in a low
voice that trembled with anger. Her face was now almost as white as the
sailor's.

Ruggiero said nothing at first, but turned his head away again.

"Per Dio!" he ejaculated after a short pause. But there was no mistaking
the tone.

Beatrice turned away and with bent head began to walk towards the
ascent. She could not help the gesture she made, clenching her hands
once fiercely and then opening them wide again; but she thought no one
could see her. Ruggiero saw, and understood.

"She is saying to herself, 'I must marry that infamous animal,'" thought
Ruggiero. "But I do not think that she will marry him."

At the foot of the ascent, Beatrice turned and looked back. Teresina and
Bastianello were coming quickly along the little wooden bridge, but
Ruggiero was close to her.

"You have not done me a good