Chapter XX

           ’ShallIseeyouagain?’sheasked,assheheldoutherhandtotakeleave.’Itisquiteunderstoodbetweenus,Isuppose,abouttheplay?’

           Francisrecalledhisextraordinaryexperienceofthateveninginthere-numberedroom.’MystayinVeniceisuncertain,’hereplied.’Ifyouhaveanythingmoretosayaboutthisdramaticventureofyours,itmaybeaswelltosayitnow.Haveyoudecidedonasubjectalready?IknowthepublictasteinEnglandbetterthanyoudo—Imightsaveyousomewasteoftimeandtrouble,ifyouhavenotchosenyoursubjectwisely.’

           ’Idon’tcarewhatsubjectIwriteabout,solongasIwrite,’sheansweredcarelessly.’Ifyouhavegotasubjectinyourhead,giveittome.Ianswerforthecharactersandthedialogue.’

           ’Youanswerforthecharactersandthedialogue,’Francisrepeated.’That’saboldwayofspeakingforabeginner!IwonderifIshouldshakeyoursublimeconfidenceinyourself,ifIsuggestedthemostticklishsubjecttohandlewhichisknowntothestage?Whatdoyousay,Countess,toenteringthelistswithShakespeare,andtryingadramawithaghostinit?Atruestory,mind!foundedoneventsinthisverycityinwhichyouandIareinterested.’

           Shecaughthimbythearm,anddrewhimawayfromthecrowdedcolonnadeintothesolitarymiddlespaceofthesquare.’Nowtellme!’shesaideagerly.’Here,wherenobodyisnearus.HowamIinterestedinit?How?how?’

           Stillholdinghisarm,sheshookhiminherimpatiencetohearthecomingdisclosure.Foramomenthehesitated.