She had never behaved herself to any of the young men in such sort
as to cause any of those rivalries and jealousies which are
sometimes apt to manifest themselves in hostile partisanship, when
the Diva is on the boards--another fruitful source of trouble to
much-tried impresarios.
She had walked circumspectly and prudently in all respects--a most
moral and highly satisfactory Diva.
She was understood to receive no visitors at home--at least, none of
a compromising kind. The Marchese Lamberto was often with her: of
course, naturally! He was well known to be always a sort of second
amateur manager: neither the theatre nor little Ercole Stadione
could go on without him. And then the Marchese Lamberto was--the
Marchese Lamberto! If he had chosen to sit by the bedside of any
prima donna in Italy night after night, it would only have been
supposed that he was giving her possets for the improvement of her
voice.
Occasionally, also, she would receive the visits of the Marchese
Ludovico; evidently by reason of the unavoidable intimacy of his
uncle in the house. And Ludovico reported to them all at the Circolo
that she was a most charming woman indeed--full of talent, merry as
a young girl, companionable, and fond of society, but wholly devoted
to her art, and quite inaccessible in the way of love-making.
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