"Did you say that the gown
was to be embroidered with pearls and silver, father, or with pearls and
gold?"
"I believe I said gold," answered the old man discontentedly.
"And when will it be ready? In about two months?"
"I daresay."
"So you mean to marry me in two months," concluded Marietta. "That is
not a long time."
"Should you prefer two years?" inquired Beroviero with increasing
annoyance. Marietta slipped from the table to her feet.
"It depends on the bridegroom," she answered. "Perhaps I may prefer to
wait a lifetime!" She moved towards the door.
"Oh, you shall be satisfied with the bridegroom! I promise you that."
The old man looked after her. At the door she turned her head, smiling.
"I may be hard to please," she said quietly, and she went out into the
garden.
When she was gone Beroviero shut the window carefully, and though the
round bull's-eye panes let in the light plentifully, they effectually
prevented any one from seeing into the room. The door was already
closed.
"You should have been more careful," he said to Zorzi in a tone of
reproach. "You should not have let any one see you, when you took the
boat."
"If the woman spent half the night looking out of her window, sir, I do
not understand how I could have taken the boat without being seen by
her.
Pages:
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108