"Per Bacco, it's queer!" said Farini, slapping his hand against his thigh. "I have heard," he continued in the tone of one speaking of some strange and almost incredible monstrosity,--"I have heard of such women taking a turn to devozione. It's not that with La Lalli, is it?" "Che! Nothing of the sort; she is as full of frolic as a kitten--up to any fun. And she is a very clever woman, too, let me tell you--a good deal of education. If you will put making love to her out of your head, I never knew a woman who was pleasanter company," said Ludovico. "And you really mean that you have never tried to make love to her in any way?" reiterated Manutoli. "I do mean it, upon my soul; but I don't care a rap whether you believe it or not," rejoined Ludovico. "And you are with her very frequently?" persisted Manutoli. "Yes, I have seen a good deal of her altogether. I like her; and I fancy she likes me to go there; she seems to wish me to come. Perhaps it is a novelty to her to have a man about her who doesn't try to make love to her." "The Marchese Lamberto sees her a good deal?" "Yes; naturally. If it had not been for that I should probably never have made acquaintance with her at all. Lo zio is continually there. He ought to have been an impresario. In fact, he is the real impresario. Little Ercole only does what my uncle tells him. I don't believe she ever sings a note on the stage that he has not heard and approved beforehand." "Suppose he is the dark horse; suppose she is his mistress all this time; and he takes care to keep her all to himself," said Manutoli. "What, lo zio. Bah! I should have thought that you knew him better than that, Manutoli. To him a woman is a voice, and nothing else. If the same sounds could be got out of a flute or a fiddle he would like it much better, and think it far more convenient. I don't think my uncle Lamberto ever knew whether a woman was pretty or plain. I wish to heaven he would get caught for once in his life; it would suit my book very well. He would have less leisure to think of other things."