midday
Corona at once took Faustina to the Palazzo Montevarchi , and then , with a promise to come back in the course of the day , she went home to rest . She needed repose even more than Faustina , who , after all , had slept soundly on her prison bed , trusting with childlike faith in her friend 's promise that she should be free in the morning . Corona , on the contrary , had passed a wakeful night , and was almost worn out with fatigue . She remained in her room until twelve o'clock , the hour when the members of the family met at the midday breakfast . She found her father-in-law waiting for her , and at a glance she saw that he was in a savage humour . His bronzed face was paler than usual and his movements more sudden and nervous , while his dark eyes gleamed angrily beneath his bent and shaggy brows . Corona , on her part , was silent and preoccupied .