If
the manners and conduct of the young women now-a-days were regulated
a little more in conformity with the ideas of such persons of
discretion as yourself, the world would be all the better for it.
But I don't quite see how the behaviour of the prima donna on the
stage could have had anything to do with the circumstance of the
Marchese Ludovico's engagement to the Signorina Foscarelli," said
the lawyer, with the most demure innocence of manner.
"You don't see it, Signor Dottore. Perhaps you were not in the
theatre that night. If you had been you would have seen it fast
enough. The way she went on, when the Marchese Ludovico was a-giving
her a lovely nosegay of flowers--hothouse flowers, if you please--as
big pretty near as this table; not just a-throwing them on to the
stage the way I've seen 'em do it many a time at the Fenice; but
putting them into her hand; and she, the minx a coming up to the box
to take 'em before all the people as bold as brass."
"Ah, I see? The Signorina Foscarelli naturally did not quite like
that," said the lawyer, encouragingly.
"Like it! Who would have liked it in her place, I ask you? And that
painted hussy a-going on they way she did; making such eyes at him,
and smiling and a-pressing her hand to her bosom, that was just as
naked as my face; and looking for all the world if she could have
jumped right into the box, and eaten him up.
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