‘I thought so,’ Minna said to herself, and continued aloud: ‘When you were trying to bridge over the interval at dinner by talking about Tiberius and Caligula I admired you. It showed what topics your mind would run upon if it might follow its own bent. When you talked about Caligula’s assassination, I thought suddenly about a silly old lesson-book from which I used to be taught what they called Roman history in my childhood. My companions and I used to make jokes about it. One of those silly old jokes came into my mind; it all seemed so funny. I laughed. I was not laughing at you. You may believe me or not; I am telling you the truth. You have often thought I was laughing at you when I was not. You have often been angry with me when I did not in the least deserve it. You were yesterday, and I felt it.’ She spoke with considerable force and directness, looking at him steadily as she did so. And as she looked it came into her mind that seldom or never had she seen a more distinguished, intellectual head and face than those of her visitor. All the passionate unrest and irritation which consumed him throughout his life at Casa Dietrich had vanished--one could see now something of what Signor Giuseppe, in happier circumstances, might have looked. There was the nameless grace and pride and high breeding which belongs to one of noble race who has been reared in the traditions of that race. He can never cast off the results of that early training. Though not a weak face, it was a sensitive, passionate one--the face of one whose impulse might now and then lead him into error; but his heart, never. He paused for some time after her energetic words, looking reflectively towards the floor; then, raising his eyes, dark, soft, and gentle, as she had never seen them before, said: ‘Signora, answer me one question: for what do you take me?’ ‘For a gentleman,’ replied Minna, who had got very much excited, though she did not betray the excitement by any restlessness of manner; ‘for a gentleman, signore, with whom I would gladly be further acquainted and on more friendly terms, if he would allow it; but he will not. He renders it impossible by his harsh treatment of both himself and me.’