Giovanni looked and was surprised, but Faustina
said nothing.
"It was very good of the prince to bring him here," remarked Sant'
Ilario.
"It was very unlike papa," exclaimed Flavia, before her mother
could answer. "But very kind, of course, as you say," she added,
with a little smile. Flavia had a habit of making rather startling
remarks, and of then adding something in explanation or comment,
before her hearers had recovered breath. The addition did not
always mend matters very much.
"Do not interrupt me, Flavia," said her mother, severely.
"I beg your pardon, were you speaking, mamma?" asked the young
girl, innocently.
Giovanni was not amused by Flavia's manners, and waited calmly for
the princess to speak.
"Indeed," said she, "there was nothing else to be done. As we had
run over the poor man--"
"The carriage--" suggested Flavia. But her mother took no notice
of her.
"The least we could do, of course, was to bring him here. My
husband would not have allowed him to be taken to the hospital."
Flavia again fixed her eyes on Giovanni with a look of sympathy,
which, however, did not convey any very profound belief in her
father's charitable intentions.
"I quite understand," said Giovanni. "And how has he been since
you brought him here? Is he in any danger?"
"You shall see him at once," answered the princess, who rose and
rang the bell, and then, as the servant's footsteps were heard
outside, crossed the room to meet him at the door.
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