Our Grecian Eros! Our little statue! I shall miss it. I wonder who bought it. Or has it flown back to Samos, starved with yearning, on our summer wind? Some day we’ll follow it. Greece! Glorious mother of artists! My heart lies there--sometimes, I almost think, my memory too. (_Pause._) Who bought our Eros? Did you hear that as well? _Lucia_ The critics say that in your art Greece has come back to life again. _Paulo_ Who bought it, Lucia? Your head to the right a little--so. _Lucia_ A great Prince, a stranger to Venice, they said, who has bought the Cavaliere Palazzo on the Grand Canal. Gossip is full of it. He has sworn to make it more beautiful than Cosimo Medici’s in Florence---- _Paulo_ That odious name again! (_Smiling._) It haunts you, Little Child! (_She starts._) Don’t move! don’t move! The pose is perfect. _Lucia_ Haunts the gossip of the town, rather--for which you asked me, Signor! The ceilings are to be painted with classical scenes alone--the loves of Apollo, and Athena’s triumph. _Paulo_ What subjects! And I know that Palazzo. Its ceilings are superb, enormous! Painting the very sky! (_Steps back to examine his work._) It’s coming, it’s coming, the very colour I wanted. Yes, yes, they are the biggest in all Venice, so I’m told. (_Turns to her._) Now, just suppose, Lucia--just suppose that one day---- _Lucia_ (_Nervous._) Paulo, beloved, do not stop. Paint on quickly. You are in your best vein. Paint on before--before the light changes. Yes, and I heard one other thing. _Paulo_ (_Painting._) Ah! _Lucia_ That this Prince will commission the winner of the Competition---- _Paulo_ (_Looking up._) To paint those ceilings! Not unlikely, Lucia! There are menial fellows enough with talent who would do it. _I_--win or lose--_I_ accept no commission tainted by patronage. And I _shall_ win. What was this Prince’s name? _Lucia_ (_Excited._) And those ceilings might be yours! _Paulo_ Who is he? _Lucia_ S--some said one thing, some another. I---- _Paulo_ The merchant must have delivered his Eros--to somebody--somewhere. [_Watches her._ _Lucia_ He didn’t say. I didn’t ask _him_. It was the gondolier as I came home. Oh, Paulo, I cannot sit well for you if you cross-question me like this! You’re like a judge. I love you so. Why should you suspect----? [_Rises agitated._ _Paulo_ Suspect! _You!_ Clear water cannot hide the reflections in it. (_Expression of comprehension dawns on his face._) Even if your love guided you amiss, I--I could never think, and far less use--that ugly word! Lucia! Little Child! You tremble---- (_Starts forward._) [_Enter OLD WOMAN, flustered. LUCIA’S hand flies to her heart._ _Woman_ Signor! Signora! A great gentleman comes for you. His gondola is already at the steps. I heard him give orders to wait. I ran on to warn you. _Lucia_ (_Cry._) Already! _Paulo_ (_Half incredulous still._) Great gentleman! (_Looking at LUCIA._) Asking for--us!