Just at that minute there came, to the infinite disgust of the
Marchese, a discreet tap at the door.
Bianca rapidly passed her fingers over the tresses above her
forehead, resettled her pose on the sofa, and gave the Marchese a
meaning look of common intelligence and mutual confidence, which set
forth, as well as a volume could have done, and established the fact
that there existed thenceforward a bond of union and a fellowship
between her and him, such as shut them in together, and shut out in
the cold all the rest of Ravenna, and then said "Passi," and
admitted, as she knew very well, no more startling an interrupter
than Gigia.
The well-trained servant said nothing and looked at nothing; but
silently handed to her mistress two cards.
"Of course you told these gentlemen that I was not visible, Gigia?"
"Diamine! Signora; of course I should not have let any gentleman
pass this morning more than any other morning of the year if you had
not specially told me to admit the Marchese Lamberto at any hour he
might come," said Gigia with a niaise simplicity, as she left the
room.
Bianca covered her face with her pretty hands and shook a gale of
perfume from her sunny locks, as she exclaimed, sotto voce,--
"Oh, the stupidity of these servants! Signor Marchese," she
continued, looking up shyly, but with a gay laugh in her eyes, "what
must you not imagine?--not, at all events, I hope, that I
contemplated the possibility of receiving you in this dishabille?
But I will do as other criminals do;--confess when they are found
out.
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