Every year he promises to come.
And every year he fails us. Why?"
"I cannot tell," replied the priest. "The animal has probably got other
things to do."
"The animal? Ah, don't say that! And such a good Catholic!"
"Foreigners, dear Duchess, I leave to your judgment. They are of little
account, anyhow. But you will be guided by me in your appreciation of
the worldly qualities of natives. Otherwise, with all your
intelligence, it will be impossible for you to avoid mistakes. Let us
leave it at that."
"But why--"
"We will leave it at that, dear lady!"
"Indeed we will, Don Francesco," replied the Duchess, who loved to be
ruled in matters of this kind.
At this moment, the performer rose from the piano with unexpected
suddenness remarking SOTTO VOCE that if he had known he was to play on
a spinet he would have brought some Lulli with him. He was beaming all
over, none the less, and soon making arrangements with other guests for
a series of picnics and boating excursions--getting on swimmingly, in
fact, when the thoughtless Madame Steynlin captured him and began to
talk music.
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