But now he forgot that he had said
it, and the angry blood rushed to his forehead.
"How dare you?" he cried, as he made a step to go on towards the pair.
They heard his voice and separated hastily. Marietta's fresh cheek
blushed like red roses, and she looked down, as shamefacedly as any
country maid, but Zorzi turned white as he stooped to pick up his stick,
then stood quite upright and met her father's eyes.
"How dare you, I say?" repeated the old man fiercely.
"I love her, sir," Zorzi answered without fear for himself, but with
much apprehension for Marietta.
"And have you forgotten that I love him, father?" asked Marietta,
looking up but still blushing. "You know, I told you all the truth, and
you were not angry then. At least, you were not so very angry," she
added, shyly correcting herself.
"If she has told you, sir," Zorzi began, "let me--"
"You can tell me nothing I do not know," cried Beroviero, "and nothing I
wish to hear! Be off! Go to the laboratory and begin work. I will speak
with my daughter."
Then Pasquale's voice was heard.
"A furnace without a fire is like a ship without a wind," he said. "It
might as well be anything else."
Beroviero looked towards the old porter indignantly, but Pasquale had
already begun to move and was returning to his lodge, uttering strange
and unearthly sounds as he went, for he was so happy that he was really
trying to hum a tune.
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