The house of the Maestro Rocco Ricci turned off the Borgo della Stella. Carlo Ammiani conducted Vittoria to the maestro's door. They conversed very little on the way.
'You are a good swordsman?' she asked him abruptly.
'I have as much skill as belongs to a perfect intimacy with the weapon,' he answered.
'Your father was a soldier, Signor Carlo.'
'He was a General officer in what he believed to be the army of Italy. We used to fence together every day for two hours.'
'I love the fathers who do that,' said Vittoria.
After such speaking Ammiani was not capable of the attempt to preach peace and safety to her. He postponed it to the next minute and the next.