"Thank you for the information. I know everything, as I
told you before. I am also aware of the social position of
an Italian who pulls teeth in a minute provincial town."

He was not aware of it, but he ventured to conclude that
it was pretty, low. Nor did Lilia contradict him. But she
was sharp enough to say, "Indeed, Philip, you surprise me.
I understood you went in for equality and so on."

"And I understood that Signor Carella was a member of
the Italian nobility."

"Well, we put it like that in the telegram so as not to
shock dear Mrs. Herriton. But it is true. He is a younger
branch. Of course families ramify--just as in yours there is
your cousin Joseph." She adroitly picked out the only
undesirable member of the Herriton clan. "Gino's father is
courtesy itself, and rising rapidly in his profession. This
very month he leaves Monteriano, and sets up at Poggibonsi.
And for my own poor part, I think what people are is what
matters, but I don't suppose you'll agree. And I should
like you to know that Gino's uncle is a priest--the same as a
clergyman at home."

Philip was aware of the social position of an Italian
priest, and said so much about it that Lilia interrupted him
with, "Well, his cousin's a lawyer at Rome."

"What kind of 'lawyer'?"