‘Cara Signora,’ said Fulvia, with a slight smile, ‘I have literally nothing to tell you about myself. I saw you five years ago. I was almost seventeen then. It is therefore obvious that I am now nearly twenty-two. Since that day I have travelled a great deal, seen a great deal, and learnt a great deal. That was to be expected. A child of seventeen must necessarily be densely ignorant of everything outside the schoolroom and the nursery. But a child with any intelligence must necessarily learn a great deal in so long a time as has passed since we met, and I have had ample opportunities for learning--oh, ample.’ She broke off, smiling--a sweet, frigid smile. Minna scarcely heeded its sweetness but felt all its frigidity, which communicated itself to her own heart. ‘You have never been to Rome again, I suppose?’ she asked quickly, and this time Fulvia’s face grew hard, though she still smiled. ‘Not to Rome. We have been, I think, almost everywhere else, and, as you perceive, are now in London.’ ‘Living here, or for the season?’ asked Minna. ‘Neither one nor the other. We are in a kind of transition period. We came here from the South of France, where we spent nearly the whole winter. I hate the Riviera--don’t you? There is such a spasmodic attempt at gaiety and amusing yourself there, which comes to nothing, however hard you may try. To an active-minded person like myself, it is a frightful life, but there is an institution at ---- where cases like my husband’s could be treated, so we stayed there.’ ‘Cases like your husband’s--is he ill?’ ‘Yes, he is ill.’ ‘Is it anything serious? Did he benefit by the treatment you speak of?’ ‘Not in the least, so far as I can see. This illness began, about eighteen months ago, with partial paralysis. It has continued to be partial paralysis ever since, and it is partial paralysis now. All the baths and waters (we have tried those too) and massage and electricity in the world will never produce the least effect upon it, but of course, when people are ill, they like to try everything, and my theory is to indulge them in their wish. It gives them something to do and think of, at any rate.’ She smiled, and adjusted the flowers in the belt of her white gown. ‘Then you have come to London for further treatment?’