Don Orsino

alone and was seated behind a broad polished table, occupied in writing. Orsino was struck by the extremely orderly arrangement of everything he saw. Papers were tied together in bundles of exactly

great artist, which hung above the fireplace. The rigid symmetry of everything was made imposing by the size of the objects-the table was larger than ordinary tables, the easy-chairs were deeper, broader and lower than common, the inkstand was bigger, even the penhol

rdly a grey thread in his short, thick, black hair, and he was still as lean and strong, and almost as active, as he had been thirty years earlier. The large f

he table. The young man suddenly felt an unaccountable sen

sult me about something,"

ce, if you will give it to me

ly. What

into's personality and prepared himself to speak as though he had been a student undergoing oral examination. He stated his case plainly, when he at last spoke. He was of age and he looked forward with dread to an idle life. All c

d very attentively to the end and then deliberately offered Ors

t to me very often," he said at last. "I wish

was categorical. He drew back a li

, in such a case as this I cannot let you go without giving you my reasons. I do not care to give my views to the public, but such as they are, you ar

till engaged in this bu

I still have as fast as I can. In speculation there are only two important moments-the moment to buy and the moment to se

is in such a flo

can tell what state business will b

is Del

a banker, and I am a speculator, as you wish to be. His position is different from ours. It is be

terrupting him. "I want to t

its own sake, excitement or occupation. I can hardly suppose that you want money. Eliminate that. Excitem

at the beginning," observed Ors

at baccarat. There at least you are responsible for your own mistakes and in decent society you are safe from the machinations of dishonest people. That would matter less if the chances were in your favour, as they might have been a year ago and as

Montevarchi wh

paper on which he signs his na

xclamation of surpr

as I know it now. He might have doubled his fortune, but he was and is totally ignorant of business. He thought it enough to invest all he could lay hands on and that the returns would be sure. He has invested forty millions and owns pro

that is possible!"

aught myself, and it was all on such a small scale that a mistake of a hundred francs made the difference between profit and loss. I dislike details, but I have been a man of detail all my life, by force of circumstances. Successful business implies the comprehens

is t

an Italian mountain-side knows the great difficulties or the great possibilities of our country. Do you know that bad as our farming is, and absurd as is our system of land taxation, we are food exporters, to a small extent? The beginning is there. Take my advice, be a farmer. Manage one of the big estates you have amongst you for five or six years. You will

ples of land draining did not present itself as an attractive career. If San Giacinto thought farming the great profession of the future, why did he not try it himself? Orsino dismissed the idea rather indignan

seemed by the latter's account to have got into trouble. He did not understand how San Giacinto could allow his wife's brother to ruin himself without lending him a helping hand, but San Giacinto was not the kind of man of whom people ask indiscr

curred to his mind. He wondered how they had set about beginning, and he wished he could ask Del Ferice himself. He could not go to the man's house, but he might possibly meet him at Maria Consuelo's. He was surprised to find tha

one, cutting a new book with the jewelled knife which continued to be the only object of the kind visible in

were not comi

hy

It is half-past to-day." O

hether I come or

lanced at his fa

to-day?" she asked. "That

say them. I have listened to two lectures delivered by two very intelligent men for my especial benefit. It seems to

good humour. Tel

ievances? No. Is Del Feri

ll? He does n

almost every day,"

at was the matter. She leaned forward in her low seat, her ch

you unhappy? Can I do an

wardly friendly manner. To-day she seemed suddenly willing to be different. Her easy, graceful attitude, her soft voice full of promised sympathy, above a

thout comment and without any of the cutting phrases which came so readily

an any misfortune. What right has your father to laugh at you? Because he never needed to do anything for himself, he t

both, I suppose,"

oul of logic and the paragon of charity! Espec

t was perhaps favourable for asking a leading question about herself, and her answer might have thrown light on her prob

e," he said. "I cannot go to his house. M

brings you? You ar

l look forward to meetin

meet Del Ferice. I do not think he has left the Chambers yet. T

make sp

ones. I hav

inside the Chambers

d ask for Del Ferice. You could see him without go

o you

as an unexceptional position in the world-no doubt he has done strange things, but so have dozens of people whom you know-his present reputation is excellent, I say. And yet, because some twenty years ago, when

ow it. As a foreigner, you are not bound to either, and you can know everybody in time, if you please. Society is not so prejudiced as to object to t

a foreigner?" asked Maria

yours

cause I do not speak Italian? You mean that? One may forget one'

he should lead the conversation so directly to a point which he

t. My father was Italian. Doe

onality of her husband, I believe,

which Orsino had heard more than once. Her eyelids drooped a little and she

nversation drop at this point, and after a

d'Aranjuez also

the same indolent tone. "Yes, since

that he could not believe in anything of the sort. Maria Consuelo did not betray a shade of emotion, either, at the mention of her deceased husband. She seemed absorbed in the contemplation of her hands. Orsino had

e curious. I do not know whether y

exclaimed Orsi

at him in silence

had known you longer, perhaps it would not be differen

panish princess. Yet everybody is aware that there is no Spanish nobleman of your name. Of course

the trouble to

er. Once more she leaned forward and her fac

ot guess?"

t to be taken altogether in earnest. She was pretty then, attractive, graceful, feminine, a little artificial, perhaps, and Orsino felt that he was free to like her or not, as he pleased, but that he pleased to like her for the present. She was quite another woman to-day, as she bent forward, her tawny eyes growing darker and more mysterious every moment, her auburn

sked again, and his voi

ftly and she touched his

instantly and was once more the woman whom he

low voice, bending towards her. "Why do you

be afraid? Are

may be fatal,

he exclaimed, wi

now," he answered. "We had

do you

u were Consuelo,

you any righ

lit

are talking to me, and then I do not wish to be called by my Christian name. I assure you, you are never anything

one," sai

he illusion which had been so powerful a

and find Del Ferice at M

no mistaking your intention when you m

y clear that the other w

ot mean

ean, Madame?" he asked, suddenly losi

raised her eyeb

sked. "Do you know that it is

e I done to-day that you sh

My dear friend, y

am. You ma

y the most extraordinary people. It is impossible to please you. If one laughs, yo

e to understand myself," said Orsino. "You

id Maria Consuelo calmly. "And I do not supp

ng that you are mistaken," said Orsino,

e asked, as though

cannot pl

you wil

not kn

always are. You are affecting

nswered Orsino, with more truth

the affectation

, Madame. Go

om to go out. She

Ors

d sharpl

dam

nd went to him. He looked down into her

something girlish in the way she asked the qu

help smiling. But

Do you know? I am very glad. It was foolish of

the next time." He found that

use of warnin

sino forgot everything and bent down, clasping her in his arms and kissing h

nt and confusion her voice was immediately answered by another, which was that of the dark and usually si

nd was falling when I caught her," said Or

her sink into the nearest chair. The maid fell on her

ot been herself since the poor Signore died. You had better leave us, sir-I w

up his hat and

imself as he closed the door softly behind h

e would receive him again. The best thing to be done, he thought, was to write her a very humble letter of apology, explaining his conduct as best he could. This did not accord very well with his principles, but he had already transgressed them in being so excessively hasty. Her eyes had certainly been provoking in the extreme, and it had been impossible to resist the expression on her lips. But at all events, he should have begun by kissing her hand, which she would certainly not have withdrawn again-then he might have put his arm round her and drawn her head to his sh

s for the time so sincere that he even forgot to light

e Piazza Colonna, and the glare of the ele

e!" yelled a newsboy in his ear. "Ministe

. Del Ferice had corrected his proofs on the spot and had lingered to talk with his friends before going home. Not that it mattered much, for Orsino could have found him as well o

oung man in a voice constrained by excitement. He felt

son to dread the quarrelsome disposition of the Sarac

icularly bland smile. "Shall we drive, or at least sit in my

strolled away, biting t

g the carriage. "Can you help me to try my luck-in a very

ou, my dear Don Orsino, after you," he repeated, pushing the young man into the brou