It is the old fish who,
when he has it once fixed in his gills, cannot get rid of it,
struggle as he may. You play your game well,--neither relaxing, nor
yet too much in a hurry, and I prophesy that I shall live to see you
Marchesa di Castelmare."
"And many a year afterwards, I hope, papa mio. And you may depend on
my teaching my husband to behave like a good son-in-law," said
Bianca, with a bright laugh.
"As for the nephew," continued Quinto, "I can understand that it
would be more agreeable to make your attack on him--"
"I don't know that at all, papa mio," interrupted Bianca. "You may
laugh, if you will, and think that I am making a virtue of
necessity--and small blame to me if I were--but the truth is, I do
like the Marchese. I like him better, as far as I can yet tell, than
any man I ever knew. Yes! you may make grimaces, and look as wicked
as you please! But it is true. And, if you ever do see me Marchesa
di Castelmare, you will see that I shall make him a very good, ay,
and a very fond, wife."
"Who could doubt it, Signora, that has the advantage of knowing you
as well as I do?" said the old man, with a mocking bow.
"You may sneer as much as you like, Quinto; but you understand
nothing about it. The Marchese is a man any woman might love. You
call him an old man? I tell you he is younger for a man than I am
for a woman, God help me! It isn't only years that make people old.
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