"Of course--of course. A chi lo dite!" returned the Marchese, giving
her once more his hand to help her to rise from the sofa.
As she did so she put into his hand, without any word of comment,
but with a slight smile and a little momentary raising of her
eyebrows, the two cards that Gigia had, a little while before,
handed to her. They bore the names of the Barone Manutoli and the
Marchese Ludovico Castelmare; and Bianca handed them to the Marchese
with a matter-of-course air that seemed to say that, in the position
which the Marchese Lamberto and she had assumed towards each other,
it was natural and proper that he should see who had called on her.
He merely nodded as he looked at them; and then, for the second
time, kissing the tips of the fingers he still held, as she got up
from her couch, he bowed low as she passed him to go towards the
bedroom; and she, before quitting the room, made a sweeping curtsey,
half playfully, and then kissed the tops of her fingers to him as
she vanished into the inner room.
CHAPTER V
After-thoughts
The Marchese Lamberto and Signor Ercole Stadione quitted the house
in which the prima donna had her lodging, together, when the
business matters, which they had come thither to arrange, had been
settled.
"A wonderful woman, Signor Marchese," said the little impresario,
trotting along with short steps by the side of the Marchese, and
rising on his toes in a springy manner, that made his walk resemble
that of a cock-sparrow.
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