She made a very low and graceful curtsey to Ludovico, as she took it
from his hand; but her eyes thanked the Marchese Lamberto, who still
remained close in his corner, for the gift.
The fact was that he was too much moved by violent and contending
emotions to dare to trust himself to hand the flowers himself. He
knew that he was shaking in every limb; and, therefore, had told his
nephew to give the bouquet; which, indeed, it was quite a matter of
course that a successful prima donna should receive from that box on
such an occasion.
Again and again the curtain had to be raised after it had descended
in obedience to the cries of the spectators, who were determined to
make the Diva's triumph complete. Again and again she had to step
back on the stage and make yet one more bow and smile--yet one more
gracious smile.
During this delay the Marchese Lamberto slipped from his box and
made his way behind the scenes. "Can you feel as Bianca what you can
so divinely express as Amina?" he whispered in her ear as he gave
her his arm to lead her to her carriage at the stage-door.
"Try me as Amina was tried; and reward me as Amina was rewarded, and
then see," she replied in the same tone.
And so ended Bianca Lalli's Carnival engagement at Ravenna.
CHAPTER IV
The Marchese Lamberto's Correspondence
The next morning--the morning of the Monday after the gala
performance at the theatre--the post brought to the Palazzo
Castelmare a letter from Rome, before the Marchese had left his
chamber.
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