_Filippo._ He inquired of me whether I often thought of those I loved in Italy, and whether I could bring them before my eyes at will. To remove all suspicion from him, I declared I always could, and that one beautiful object occupied all the cells of my brain by night and day. He paused and pondered, and then said, 'Thou dost not love deeply.' I thought I had given the true signs. 'No, Lippi! we who love ardently, we, with all our wishes, all the efforts of our souls, cannot bring before us the features which, while they were present, we thought it impossible we ever could forget. Alas! when we most love the absent, when we most desire to see her, we try in vain to bring her image back to us. The troubled heart shakes and confounds it, even as ruffled waters do with shadows. Hateful things are more hateful when they haunt our sleep: the lovely flee away, or are changed into less lovely.' _Eugenius._ What figures now have these unbelievers? _Filippo._ Various in their combinations as the letters or the numerals; but they all, like these, signify something. Almeida (did I not inform your Holiness?) has large hazel eyes.... _Eugenius._ Has she? thou never toldest me that. Well, well! and what else has she? Mind! be cautious! use decent terms. _Filippo._ Somewhat pouting lips. _Eugenius._ Ha! ha! What did they pout at? _Filippo._ And she is rather plump than otherwise. _Eugenius._ No harm in that. _Filippo._ And moreover is cool, smooth, and firm as a nectarine gathered before sunrise. _Eugenius._ Ha! ha! do not remind me of nectarines. I am very fond of them; and this is not the season! Such females as thou describest are said to be among the likeliest to give reasonable cause for suspicion. I would not judge harshly, I would not think uncharitably; but, unhappily, being at so great a distance from spiritual aid, peradventure a desire, a suggestion, an inkling ... ay? If she, the lost Almeida, came before thee when her master was absent ... which I trust she never did.... But those flowers and shrubs and odours and alleys and long grass and alcoves, might strangely hold, perplex, and entangle, two incautious young persons ... ay? _Filippo._ I confessed all I had to confess in this matter the evening I landed. _Eugenius._ Ho! I am no candidate for a seat at the rehearsal of confessions: but perhaps my absolution might be somewhat more pleasing and unconditional. Well! well! since I am unworthy of such confidence, go about thy business ... paint! paint! _Filippo._ Am I so unfortunate as to have offended your Beatitude? _Eugenius._ Offend _me_, man! who offends _me_? I took an interest in thy adventures, and was concerned lest thou mightest have sinned; for by my soul! Filippo! those are the women that the devil hath set his mark on. _Filippo._ It would do your Holiness's heart good to rub it out again, wherever he may have had the cunning to make it. _Eugenius._ Deep! deep!