"
"But how came the accident? It was caused by your leaning out of
your carriage to throw a bouquet yourself."
"Yes, exactly so; to the Marchese Ludovico. He was the only person
to whom I threw a bouquet in all the Corso."
"And why should you throw one to him?"
"To him,--to your nephew? Why not, I should not have thought of
doing so to another. But to him--"
"And what was it, pray, that he threw to you? I wonder whether he
thought, too, that he should not dream of throwing anything to
anybody except you."
"The Marchese Ludovico threw nothing to me. Just at the same moment
that troublesome idiot, the Conte Leandro, threw a packet into the
carriage. I have not even opened it; you may have it unopened the
next time you are in the Strada di Porta Sisi, if you like. No doubt
it contains some of his charming verses. It is not kind of you,
Signor Marchese, to say such things, or to have such thoughts in
your head!" said Bianca, turning away her face and putting her
handkerchief to her eyes. "And now," she added, "you have made my
eyes all red just before I have to go on the stage!"
Of course once again the unhappy Marchese was entirely routed, and
the Diva was victorious. "Forgive me, Bianca,", he whispered; "I
think only of you from the morning to the evening, and from the
evening to the morning again.
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