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〃Eh； it's the beautiful moment。 I'm glad our city pleases you！〃
〃Florence pleases meand I take a paternal interest to our young
friend；〃 I added； glancing at Stanmer。 〃I have become very fond of
him。〃
〃Bel tipo inglese；〃 said my hostess。 〃And he is very intelligent； he
has a beautiful mind。〃
She stood there resting her smile and her clear； expressive eyes upon
me。
〃I don't like to praise him too much；〃 I rejoined； 〃lest I should
appear to praise myself； he reminds me so much of what I was at his
age。 If your beautiful mother were to come to life for an hour she
would see the resemblance。〃
She gave me a little amused stare。
〃And yet you don't look at all like him！〃
〃Ah； you didn't know me when I was twenty…five。 I was very handsome！
And； moreover； it isn't that； it's the mental resemblance。 I was
ingenuous； candid； trusting； like him。〃
〃Trusting？ I remember my mother once telling me that you were the
most suspicious and jealous of men！〃
〃I fell into a suspicious mood； but I was； fundamentally； not in the
least addicted to thinking evil。 I couldn't easily imagine any harm
of any one。〃
〃And so you mean that Mr。 Stanmer is in a suspicions mood？〃
〃Well； I mean that his situation is the same as mine。〃
The Countess gave me one of her serious looks。 〃Come；〃 she said；
〃what was itthis famous situation of yours？ I have heard you
mention it before。〃
〃Your mother might have told you； since she occasionally did me the
honour to speak of me。〃
〃All my mother ever told me was that you werea sad puzzle to her。〃
At this； of course； I laughed outI laugh still as I write it。
〃Well； then； that was my situationI was a sad puzzle to a very
clever woman。〃
〃And you mean； therefore； that I am a puzzle to poor Mr。 Stanmer？〃
〃He is racking his brains to make you out。 Remember it was you who
said he was intelligent。〃
She looked round at him； and as fortune would have it； his appearance
at that moment quite confirmed my assertion。 He was lounging back in
his chair with an air of indolence rather too marked for a drawing…
room； and staring at the ceiling with the expression of a man who has
just been asked a conundrum。 Madame Scarabelli seemed struck with
his attitude。
〃Don't you see；〃 I said； 〃he can't read the riddle？〃
〃You yourself；〃 she answered； 〃said he was incapable of thinking
evil。 I should be sorry to have him think any evil of ME。〃
And she looked straight at meseriously； appealinglywith her
beautiful candid brow。
I inclined myself； smiling； in a manner which might have meant〃How
could that be possible？〃
〃I have a great esteem for him；〃 she went on； 〃I want him to think
well of me。 If I am a puzzle to him； do me a little service。
Explain me to him。〃
〃Explain you； dear lady？〃
〃You are older and wiser than he。 Make him understand me。〃
She looked deep into my eyes for a moment； and then she turned away。
26th。I have written nothing for a good many days； but meanwhile I
have been half a dozen times to Casa Salvi。 I have seen a good deal
also of my young friendhad a good many walks and talks with him。 I
have proposed to him to come with me to Venice for a fortnight； but
he won't listen to the idea of leaving Florence。 He is very happy in
spite of his doubts； and I confess that in the perception of his
happiness I have lived over again my own。 This is so much the case
that when； the other day； he at last made up his mind to ask me to
tell him the wrong that Madame de Salvi had done me； I rather checked
his curiosity。 I told him that if he was bent upon knowing I would
satisfy him； but that it seemed a pity； just now； to indulge in
painful imagery。
〃But I thought you wanted so much to put me out of conceit of our
friend。〃
〃I admit I am inconsistent； but there are various reasons for it。 In
the first placeit's obviousI am open to the charge of playing a
double game。 I profess an admiration for the Countess Scarabelli；
for I accept her hospitality； and at the same time I attempt to
poison your mind； isn't that the proper expression？ I can't exactly
make up my mind to that； though my admiration for the Countess and my
desire to prevent you from taking a foolish step are equally sincere。
And then； in the second place； you seem to me； on the whole； so
happy！ One hesitates to destroy an illusion； no matter how
pernicious； that is so delightful while it lasts。 These are the rare
moments of life。 To be young and ardent； in the midst of an Italian
spring； and to believe in the moral perfection of a beautiful woman
what an admirable situation！ Float with the current； I'll stand on
the brink and watch you。〃
〃Your real reason is that you feel you have no case against the poor
lady；〃 said Stanmer。 〃You admire her as much as I do。〃
〃I just admitted that I admired her。 I never said she was a vulgar
flirt； her mother was an absolutely scientific one。 Heaven knows I
admired that！ It's a nice point； however； how much one is hound in
honour not to warn a young friend against a dangerous woman because
one also has relations of civility with the lady。〃
〃In such a case；〃 said Stanmer； 〃I would break off my relations。〃
I looked at him； and I think I laughed。
〃Are you jealous of me； by chance？〃
He shook his head emphatically。
〃Not in the least； I like to see you there； because your conduct
contradicts your words。〃
〃I have always said that the Countess is fascinating。〃
〃Otherwise；〃 said Stanmer； 〃in the case you speak of I would give the
lady notice。〃
〃Give her notice？〃
〃Mention to her that you regard her with suspicion； and that you
propose to do your best to rescue a simple…minded youth from her
wiles。 That would be more loyal。〃 And he began to laugh again。
It is not the first time he has laughed at me； but I have never
minded it； because I have always understood it。
〃Is that what you recommend me to say to the Countess？〃 I asked。
〃Recommend you！〃 he exclaimed； laughing again； 〃I recommend nothing。
I may be the victim to be rescued； but I am at least not a partner to
the conspiracy。 Besides；〃 he added in a moment； 〃the Countess knows
your state of mind。〃
〃Has she told you so？〃
Stanmer hesitated。
〃She has begged me to listen to everything you may say against her。
She declares that she has a good conscience。〃
〃Ah；〃 said I； 〃she's an accomplished woman！〃
And it is indeed very clever of her to take that tone。 Stanmer
afterwards assured me explicitly that he has never given her a hint
of the liberties I have taken in conversation withwhat shall I call
it？with her moral nature； she has guessed them for herself。 She
must hate me intensely； and yet her manner has always been so
charming to me！ She is truly an accomplished woman！