"As for the specialties of her face and person," continued the impresario, "they appeared to me highly favourable. Very tall,--perhaps your lordship or I might say too tall. But--on the stage the prejudice is in favour of a degree of tallness that we might not admire off it. Gestures, bearing, and the movement of the person equally capable of expressing majestic dignity, or heart-subduing pathos. A most graceful walk. In short, a persona tutta simpatica. As for the head--magnificent hair,--blonde, which for choice I would always prefer--the true Titian sun-tinged auburn,--a telling eye, finely formed nose, and mouth of inexpressible sweetness!" "Per Bacco, Signor Ercole, a Phoenix indeed! A Diva davvero!" said the Marchese. "Eccellenza, she'll do," said the little man nodding his head with its top-heavy forehead three or four times emphatically. "If she do not make such a sensation in Ravenna as we have not known here for a long time, say that Ercole Stadione knows nothing of his profession." "Bravo! bravo!" cried the Marchese, gleefully rubbing his hands. "And now, my good friend, I won't keep you from the bed and the rest you so well deserve any longer. You may depend on it that your zeal in this matter won't be overlooked or forgotten." "Troppo buono, Eccellenza! But there was one word I wished to say to your lordship," continued little Signor Ercole, dropping his voice to a lower key, and speaking with some hesitation,--one little word that I thought it might be useful, or--or--desirable to mention--" "Yes, speak on, my dear Signor Ercole, I am all attention. What is it? No drawback I hope!" "Only this, Signor Marchese," said the little man casting a glance round the room, dropping his voice still more, and bringing his head nearer to the ear of the Marchese; "only this:--you see if there had been nothing-disagreeable,--nothing untoward, as I may say--your lordship understands, we should never have had La Lalli at Ravenna. There has been a--sort of difficulty--your lordship understands--spiteful things have been said--calumny--all calumny no doubt-the constant attendant of merit, alas! we all know. But--in short--here in Ravenna--it would not be--desirable,--your Excellency understands and appreciates what I would say a thousand times better than I can say it. It would be in every point of view better, as your Excellency sees, that no idle chatter of this kind should be set about here. It would be inexpedient for more reasons than one."