human
Pray, Baron Sydow, discount all this talk some fifty per cent. You must not believe that I would take any young girl intrusted to my care where it was not proper that she should go.
gpt
I know nothing about proper or improper: I only know what is amusing and what is tiresome, the Princess said, with a laugh,
human
But, Baron Sydow, do not allow yourself to be imposed upon, Feistmantel exclaimed, almost beside herself.
gpt
The Café des Ambassadeurs,--why, that is a _café chantant_. There is not a word of truth in all her nonsense.
human
Not true? oh, but it is, the Princess retorted, quite at her ease.
gpt
Of course it was a _café chantant_, and the singer sang '_Estelle, où est ta flanelle?_'--it was too funny; but I can sing it just like her. I practised it that very evening. I must sing it to you some day, Herr von Sydow,--that is, when we are better acquainted. Oh, is there no _café chantant_ in Florence to which you could take us?
human
But, Princess----!
gpt
Why, a gentleman took us to the Café des Ambassadeurs, a man whose acquaintance we made in the hotel, Dorothea ran on.
human
He was an American,--a Mr. Higgs: he came from Connecticut, and dealt in cheeses. He was very rich, and he sent us tickets for the theatre. Afterwards he wanted to marry me: I liked him very well, and would have accepted him, but my brother said he was no match for me. Well, I did not break my heart, but I should have liked to marry him for all that. We Princesses Ilm have the right, it is true, to marry crowned heads, but I never mean to avail myself of it. If I were an Empress I should always travel incognito. As soon as I am of age I shall marry a chimney-sweeper--if he is a millionaire, or if I fall in love with him.
gpt
Both contingencies seem highly probable,