Do you wish to confer with
me in private? If so, Signor Alfieri, who is not unknown to you, I
believe, will leave us for a few minutes. Otherwise, you can talk quite
frankly in his presence."
That was the Governor's method of putting his two visitors at their
ease. The lady would assume he knew everything. The man would take his
cue from a friendly opening. What could be better?
"I am glad that Signor Alfieri is here, your Excellency, though I must
admit that I did not expect to see him," said Mrs. Haxton, taking the
proffered chair. "My business concerns him, to a certain extent. By all
means, let him remain."
Her voice was under control. She spoke Italian fluently, and her
smooth, clear accents seemed to stir strange memories in Alfieri's
soul. But, thinking to annoy her, he forced a spiteful grin to his thin
lips.
"Allowing for the lapse of years, Rita," he said, "and bearing in mind
your natural distress at to-day's occurrences, you are looking
remarkably well."
She flashed one quick glance at him, then smiled sweetly at Marchetti.
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