"It is what the town will be asking, no doubt," said Messer Fifanti. "I
hope you will be able to satisfy its curiosity, my lord."
And on that he turned, and stalked off again, very white and trembling, as
I could perceive.
My Lord Gambara laughed carelessly again, and over the pale face of Monna
Giuliana there stole a slow smile, the memory of which was to be hateful to
me soon, but which at the moment went to increase my already profound
mystification.
CHAPTER III
PREUX-CHEVALIER
In the days that followed I found Messer Fifanti in queerer moods than
ever. Ever impatient, he would be easily moved to anger now, and not a day
passed but he stormed at me over the Greek with which, under his guidance,
I was wrestling.
And with Giuliana his manner was the oddest thing conceivable; at times he
was mocking as an ape, at times his manner had in it a suggestion of the
serpent; more rarely he was his usual, vulturine self. He watched her
curiously, ever between anger and derision, to all of which she presented a
calm front and a patience almost saintly. He was as a man with some mighty
burden on his mind, undecided whether he shall bear it or cast it off.
Her patience moved me most oddly to pity; and pity for so beautiful a
creature is Satan's most subtle snare, especially when you consider what a
power her beauty had to move me as I had already discovered to my erstwhile
terror.
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