Rodolphe and Francesca for some time remained in perfect silence, answering each other by sympathetic glances full of thoughts.  They understood each other in the midst of one of the most beautiful scenes of Nature, whose glories, interpreted by the glory in their hearts, helped to stamp on their minds the most fugitive details of that unique hour.  There had not been the slightest shade of frivolity in Francesca’s conduct.  It was noble, large, and without any second thought.  This magnanimity struck Rodolphe greatly, for in it he recognized the difference between the Italian and the Frenchwoman.  The waters, the land, the sky, the woman, all were grandiose and suave, even their love in the midst of this picture, so vast in its expanse, so rich in detail, where the sternness of the snowy peaks and their hard folds standing clearly out against the blue sky, reminded Rodolphe of the circumstances which limited his happiness; a lovely country shut in by snows.

This delightful intoxication of soul was destined to be disturbed.  A boat was approaching from Lucerne; Gina, who had been watching it attentively, gave a joyful start, though faithful to her part as a mute.  The bark came nearer; when at length Francesca could distinguish the faces on board, she exclaimed, “Tito!” as she perceived a young man.  She stood up, and remained standing at the risk of being drowned.  “Tito!  Tito!” cried she, waving her handkerchief.

Tito desired the boatmen to slacken, and the two boats pulled side by side.  The Italian and Tito talked with such extreme rapidity, and in a dialect unfamiliar to a man who hardly knew even the Italian of books, that Rodolphe could neither hear nor guess the drift of this conversation.  But Tito’s handsome face, Francesca’s familiarity, and Gina’s expression of delight, all aggrieved him.  And indeed no lover can help being ill pleased at finding himself neglected for another, whoever he may be.  Tito tossed a little leather bag to Gina, full of gold no doubt, and a packet of letters to Francesca, who began to read them, with a farewell wave of the hand to Tito.

“Get quickly back to Gersau,” she said to the boatmen, “I will not let my poor Emilio pine ten minutes longer than he need.”

“What has happened?” asked Rodolphe, as he saw Francesca finish reading the last letter.

“La liberta!” she exclaimed, with an artist’s enthusiasm.

“E denaro!” added Gina, like an echo, for she had found her tongue.

“Yes,” said Francesca, “no more poverty!  For more than eleven months have I been working, and I was beginning to be tired of it.  I am certainly not a literary woman.”

“Who is this Tito?” asked Rodolphe.

“The Secretary of State to the financial department of the humble shop of the Colonnas, in other words, the son of our ragionato.  Poor boy! he could not come by the Saint-Gothard, nor by the Mont-Cenis, nor by the Simplon; he came by sea, by Marseilles, and had to cross France.  Well, in three weeks we shall be at Geneva, and living at our ease.  Come, Rodolphe,” she added, seeing sadness overspread the Parisian’s face, “is not the Lake of Geneva quite as good as the Lake of Lucerne?”