The Valley of Decision

Chapter 14

Trescorre too kept open house, and here Odo found a warmer welcome than

he had expected. Though Trescorre was still the Duchess's accredited

lover, it was clear that the tie between them was no longer such as to

make him resent her kindness to her young kinsman. He seemed indeed

anxious to draw Odo into her Highness's circle, and surprised him by a

frankness and affability of which his demeanour at Turin had given no

promise. As leader of the anti-clericals he stood for such liberalism as

dared show its head in Pianura; and he seemed disposed to invite Odo's

confidence in political matters. The latter was, however, too much the

child of his race not to hang back from such an invitation. He did not

distrust Trescorre more than the other courtiers; but it was a time when

every ear