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"Aurora has a fixed idea," said Maddalena. "While she was talking with Marcello at the gap in the bank there was a small ship tossing about not far from the shore." "Well?" asked Corbario. "What of it?" As he looked up from the contemplation of his hands Maddalena was struck by his extreme pallor and the terrible hollowness of his eyes. "How ill you look!" she exclaimed, almost involuntarily.
He had scarcely heard what Corbario said, but the elder man's careless chatter had put him at his ease. "Folco," he said quietly, "I want to ask you a question, and I want you to answer me seriously. Will you?" "As well as I can," answered Corbario, instantly changing his tone and growing earnest. "Don't be surprised," Marcello said, half apologetically, as if he were already weakening.
"That is utterly absurd!" he answered. "No swimmer that ever lived could have got to her, nor any boat either! There was a terrific surf on the bar." "Of course not," assented Maddalena. "But you saw the ship, too?" "Yes. Aurora was looking at her when I reached the gap. That is why I noticed the vessel," Corbario added, as if by an afterthought.
Given a large fortune and ordinary liberty, it might be foreseen that the boy would not reach the haven of maturity without meeting a storm, even if the outward circumstances of chance were all in his favour, even if no one had an interest in ruining him, even if Folco Corbario did not want all for himself, as poor Ercole told his dog that he did in the solitude of his hut.
"I wonder whether I ever shall," he added. Corbario glanced at him curiously. There was the faintest accent of longing in the tone, which was quite new. "Why not?" Folco asked, still smiling. "It is merely a question of health, my dear boy.
In her opinion Corbario was the handsomest, bravest, cleverest, and best of men, and after watching him for some time even the disappointed gossips were obliged to admit, though without superlatives, that he was a good-looking fellow, a good sportsman, sufficiently well gifted, and of excellent behaviour.
"You are like a sister to her!" Maddalena glanced at him through her veil. She had small and classic features, rather hard and proud, and her eyes were of a dark violet colour, which is very unusual, especially in Italy. But she came from the north. Corbario could not see her expression, and she knew it. "You are good to her, too," she said presently, being anxious to be just.
The old monk watched him thoughtfully, and shook his head once or twice, for he guessed something of the truth, though by no means all. "One might almost think that you wished to marry Aurora yourself," said Corbario, with a sneer. He was standing with his back to the fire in the great library of the villa, for it was late autumn again; it was raining hard and the air was raw and chilly.
Those are antiquated distinctions, like the four elements of the alchemists." "Well but what is the thing, then?" asked Corbario, almost impatiently. "What should you call it in scientific language?" Kalmon closed his eyes for a moment, as if to collect his thoughts.
Corbario knew that, and wondered whether a man's eye could receive any impression in so short a time. He shuddered when he thought that it might be possible. The question was to be answered sooner than he expected.
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