Bitter doubt tormented him. Had Margherita understood the significance of the sonnet? She had said nothing to the point in those precious moments, which he had stupidly not turned to profit. Her agitation was not enough. It told nothing. No, he must really know more--know all. "Know what?" he asked himself ruefully. "There's nothing to know." It was all useless. Even if she cared for him--but this was folly. Nothing was any good. Great emptiness surrounded him, and in this emptiness the voice of Signor Carboni lost itself and was unheard. "You're lucky in having only your studies to mind," ended the godfather hearing a sigh from the boy. "Be cheerful; be a man and do us credit." Margherita now came back accompanied by her mother, who in her turn was prodigal of counsel and encouragement. The girl went hither and thither about the room. She had dressed her hair coquettishly with a curl on her left temple. What was still more important, she had powdered herself. Eyes and lips were resplendent. She was a wonder; and Anania followed her about deliriously, his thoughts running on kisses. She must have understood, she must have been attracted by the fascination of his gaze, for when he was going away--she followed him to the great entrance door! The court was bathed in moonlight, as it had been that night long ago, when the proud, sweet vision of her had waked his childishness to a sense of duty. So now she was proud and sweet. She stepped lightly, with a rustle of wings, ready to fly. Ah! she was a true angel! Anania thought himself still dreaming. Presently she would float up and vanish, and he would not be able to follow her. And the desire to put his arm round that slender waist with its green ribbon made him giddy. "I shall never see her again!" he told himself; "I shall fall dead the instant she has shut the door!" Margherita pulled the chain; then turned and extended her hand. She was pale. "Good-bye. I'll write to you," she whispered. "Good-bye!" said he, shivering with joy. The contact of their hands perhaps caused some grand explosion. For they felt as it were a great booming in their ears, and the heat and the light of a thunderbolt fell round them, while--rapturously--they kissed each other. [Footnote 12: Sign of familiarity and friendship.] VIII At Cagliari Anania went through the Lyceum course, then two years at the University. He was studying Law. These years were like an _intermezzo_ in his life; sweet and inspiriting music.