Then follows all the bargaining I told you of. The Signora's husband would not sell an old picture--not he!--for a thousand pounds in gold; not till all the dirt was off and he could see it fairly. All applauded this, and said in chorus neither would they! Who could tell what might not be, under the dirt? However, they knew so little about it that they would not mind buying this one, on the chance. But for a decently reasonable price--say five thousand Italian lire. On which the owner said, "_Come mai_! _E pochissimo_!" Then the _Signori Inglesi_ took another tone, and would have none of the picture, nor any picture, at any price! They would not know where to hang it. They did not like pictures on their walls. All the walls were covered with pictures already, all favourites, that must not be moved. But why need I tell you all this? You have heard folk make bargains, and the lies they tell. The English Signori departed, having bought me for near six hundred and fifty English pounds. And then my lady and gentleman are mightily delighted, and dance about the room with joy. Now they will go to Monte Carlo and win back all they lost last year. Then I hear them talking in an undertone, thus:-- (He) "I hope they never suspected it was none of ours----" (She) "Ah, _Dio mio_! And I had told them we were only _inquilini_"--that is, tenants. (He) "_Non ti confondi_? Don't fret about that. They don't know what _inquilini_ means. They can only say '_mangia bene, quanto costa_!'" (She) "_Speriamo_! But what a fine lot of old furniture! Couldn't we sell some of it, too?" And this young Signora, who was very pretty and impudent, and what I have since heard called svelte, danced about the room in high glee. But the good gentleman stopped her. (He) "_Troppo pericolo_! The fat old Marchesa would find out. No, no! The picture is quite another thing----" (She) "_Perche?_" (He) "Can't you see, thickhead? If the old _strega_"--the old witch, that is--"had known the picture was there, do you suppose she wouldn't have had it out, long ago? And that other picture in front of it, with the eagle.... Don't dance, but listen!" (She) "... Picture in front of it, with the eagle ... yes, go on!" But she won't quite stop dancing, and makes little quick tiptoe movements, not to seem over-subservient and docile. (He) "I would have sold that, too, only it's too big for safety. This one will go in a small case. The _famiglia_ will have to be well paid. What was it la Filomena told you first of all about the room and the furniture? Do stop that dancing!" (She) "There, see now, I've stopped! But you _have_ been told, once!" (He) "Then tell again!"