"Per Bacco, it's queer!" said Farini, slapping his hand against his
thigh. "I have heard," he continued in the tone of one speaking of
some strange and almost incredible monstrosity,--"I have heard of
such women taking a turn to devozione. It's not that with La Lalli,
is it?"
"Che! Nothing of the sort; she is as full of frolic as a kitten--up
to any fun. And she is a very clever woman, too, let me tell you--a
good deal of education. If you will put making love to her out of
your head, I never knew a woman who was pleasanter company," said
Ludovico.
"And you really mean that you have never tried to make love to her
in any way?" reiterated Manutoli.
"I do mean it, upon my soul; but I don't care a rap whether you
believe it or not," rejoined Ludovico.
"And you are with her very frequently?" persisted Manutoli.
"Yes, I have seen a good deal of her altogether. I like her; and I
fancy she likes me to go there; she seems to wish me to come.
Perhaps it is a novelty to her to have a man about her who doesn't
try to make love to her."
"The Marchese Lamberto sees her a good deal?"
"Yes; naturally. If it had not been for that I should probably never
have made acquaintance with her at all. Lo zio is continually there.
He ought to have been an impresario. In fact, he is the real
impresario.
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