It is not
improbable. But my conceptions of the power of persuasion have never
risen yet to a belief in the possibility of persuading a dog who has
got a lump of butter in his mouth to relinquish it."
"Umph! you are not particularly gallant, Signor Giovacchino. We
shall see. But all that must be matter for future conversation. Here
we are at her door. Let us see if anything has been heard of her."
Ludovico, leaving his companion for an instant in the street, sprang
up the stairs to make inquiry; and in the next minute returned
looking very much vexed and annoyed, with the information that
nothing had been seen or heard of the Diva since she left the house
in his company at an early hour that morning.
CHAPTER IX
"Passa la Bella Donna e par che dorma"--Tasso
"What's to be done now? I absolutely must find her," said Ludovico,
looking, as he felt, exceedingly puzzled and annoyed.
"Well, yes. Considering the nature of the information she gave you
this morning, and bearing in mind that her existence in the flesh
promises to be the means of leaving you without the price of a crust
of bread in the world, and the further fact she was last seen
starting on a tete-a-tete expedition with you at six o'clock in the
morning, I admit that it is desirable that you should find her,"
said the lawyer, with somewhat grim pleasantry.
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