The Contessa Violante, for example--ask her," said
Paolina.
"Just because she is splendidly handsome: women cannot be just to
each other when that comes in the way. But you might afford to be
charitable even to so beautiful a creature as the Lalli, my
Paolina."
"No, Signor, I won't be bribed by compliments, even from you," she
whispered, with a look that showed that the value of the bribe was
not unappreciated; "and I think that what you say is unjust to women
in general."
"But I wonder what it is then that has prejudiced you against the
Lalli?"
"I don't know. Really nothing that I can tell. One feels sometimes
what one cannot explain. She is not simpatica to me, that is all."
"But what on earth put it into your head, Paolina mia, to say that
she was not thinking of me when she was singing her part? Why should
she think of me--or of anybody else, except the primo tenore, who
was singing with her? What is it you mean?" said Ludovico, much
puzzled.
"You said she was a very good actress as well as a fine singer,"
returned Paolina; "and I think she is. This is a capital box for
seeing all that goes on the opposite side of the theatre. And I can
tell you who the Lalli was thinking of, and who she was singing at
during her duet at the end of the act--your uncle, the Marchese
Lamberto; and he knew it very well, too.
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