“Surely that is not your political creed!” said Maria Consuelo.

“Certainly not, Madame, certainly not,” answered Del Ferice in gentle protest.  “It is not a creed at all, but only a very poor explanation of the way in which most experienced people look upon the events of their day.  The idea in which we believe is very different from the results it has brought about, and very much higher, and very much better.  But the results are not all bad either.  Unfortunately the bad ones are on the surface, and the good ones, which are enduring, must be sought in places where the honest sunshine has not yet dispelled the early shadows.”

Maria Consuelo smiled faintly, and the slight cast in her eyes was more than usually apparent, as though her attention were wandering.  Orsino said nothing, and wondered why Del Ferice continued to talk.  The latter, indeed, was allowing himself to run on because neither of his hearers seemed inclined to make a remark which might serve to turn the conversation, and he began to suspect that something had occurred before his coming which had disturbed their equanimity.

He presently began to talk of people instead of ideas, for he had no intention of being thought a bore by Madame d’Aranjuez, and the man who is foolish enough to talk of anything but his neighbours, when he has more than one hearer, is in danger of being numbered with the tormentors.

Half an hour passed quickly enough after the common chord had been struck, and Del Ferice and Orsino exchanged glances of intelligence, meaning to go away together as had been agreed.  Del Ferice rose first, and Orsino took up his hat.  To his surprise and consternation Maria Consuelo made a quick and imperative sign to him to remain.  Del Ferice’s dull blue eyes saw most things that happened within the range of their vision, and neither the gesture nor the look that accompanied it escaped him.

Orsino’s position was extremely awkward.  He had put Del Ferice to some inconvenience on the understanding that they were to go away together and did not wish to offend him by not keeping his engagement.  On the other hand it was next to impossible to disobey Maria Consuelo, and to explain his difficulty to Del Ferice was wholly out of the question.  He almost wished that the latter might have seen and understood the signal.  But Del Ferice made no sign and took Maria Consuelo’s offered hand, in the act of leavetaking.  Orsino grew desperate and stood beside the two, holding his hat.  Del Ferice turned to shake hands with him also.

“But perhaps you are going too,” he said, with a distinct interrogation.

Orsino glanced at Maria Consuelo as though imploring her permission to take his leave, but her face was impenetrable, calm and indifferent.

Del Ferice understood perfectly what was taking place, but he found a moment while Orsino hesitated.  If the latter had known how completely he was in Del Ferice’s power throughout the little scene, he would have then and there thrown over his financial schemes in favour of Maria Consuelo.  But Del Ferice’s quiet, friendly manner did not suggest despotism, and he did not suffer Orsino’s embarrassment to last more than five seconds.