human
Well, uncle: at all events, let this Carnival pass over. Let me have this last Carnival; then Lent is of no use: after that we will see about it.
gpt
Well, be it so. But, my dear boy, you know all the importance of this marriage! You know how desirable it is in every point of view; family, rank, station, influence, money,--though that happily we have no need to seek; why, it was only last week,--this is a secret, and must go no further, but I know I can trust to your discretion;--only last week, that I got a letter from my old friend, Monsignore Paterini at Rome, in which he speaks in almost open terms of the chance, and even probability, that our Cardinal might--ahem!--find the next conclave a particularly interesting one. You know how Paterini stands at Rome, and that a hint from him is as good as a volume from another; and just think of the possibilities that such a contingency might open before you! I won't say any more; but do now during this Carnival, show yourself a little more at the palace, and pay a little attention, and let the world see that you occupy the place with regard to the Contessa Violante, that you really do occupy. Basta!
human
I will do the best I can, sir, to merit your approbation,
gpt
And now about the matter I wanted to speak of last night. La Lalli comes to us, you see, for the Carnival: it is a great triumph for Ravenna. She is certainly the first singer in Italy, since England with its brute power of money, robbed us of poor Sparderini. But between you and me, figliuolo mio, we should never have got her, if there had not been certain difficulties--certain scandals,--che so io?--at Milan. All that is no business of ours, you know, tutt' altro! But there has been talk;--stories have got about!--mere calumny probably, as Signor Ercole very justly remarked,--but it is very desirable that such things should not be the talk of the town here. It is mauvais genre to chatter about such matters. You can make it mauvais genre among the youngsters at Ravenna, if you choose. Do so; you understand! That's all.
human
Perfectly, uncle! Lasci fare a me! I'll see to it; though I confess I do not quite understand why we need trouble ourselves about any such gossip,
gpt
Well, I should have thought that you might understand. In the first place I don't want it to be said or imagined, either here or elsewhere, that Ravenna has taken up with a singer, who could not get an engagement elsewhere. Not that that is the case by any means. But don't you see, if it is said that she was obliged to leave Milan, it puts us in the position of a pis aller! And I don't like that. In the next place, I don't want to have light talk about a person whom I have had so large a share in bringing to the city. These are things you ought to learn to think of, caro mio!
human
I'll take care that things shall be as you wish. When is she to arrive?
gpt
About the end of the year--in a month's time or thereabouts. Stadione did not mention whether the day of her coming had been fixed. Her first appearance will be on the night of the Beffana, the 6th of January.
human
Because they were talking at the Circolo of getting up some little matter of welcome,--taking the horses from her carriage, and drawing her in, or some thing of that kind, and a serenata of course. Leandro is busy already with a poem for the occasion, you may swear!
gpt
Bravo! bene! If only our good friend the Conte keeps his muse within tolerable limits! It would not do to quite smother her in verse on her first arrival; and, you know, our good Leandro has rather a special gift that way. Well, get up any kind of dimostrasione you like for the occasion,--it will all help to give eclat to our opening. You can arrange all about the when, and the where, etc., with Stadione. We are going to have a meeting of the Belle Arte Committee here this morning. They'll be here directly!
human
One word more, uncle, before I'm off,
gpt
What is it?--money, I suppose?
human
No, sir; not money this time,--unless, indeed, you insist on it,
gpt
Not at all, not at all! I won't press it on you by any means! said the uncle in a similar tone;
human
Why, with reference to what you were saying just now, about the Signorina Foscarelli, replied Ludovico, in quite a different tone.
gpt
I am always anxious to shape my conduct in accordance with your advice, uncle. You see La Foscarelli has all but finished her work at St. Vitale, you know: she is to do her copying in the Cardinal's Palace next, for you have kindly arranged for her permission to do so. Now, she can't very well go to the palace, for the first time, alone, you know! If you had not expressed the opinions you have on the subject, I should have gone with her, thinking no harm. But perhaps--to the palace, you know;--it would be better, if you would not mind it, to accompany her, for the first time, yourself.
human
Very right, very properly thought of, my dear boy! Yes; I can go with her--or I can send Burini, which will come to the same thing.
gpt
No, uncle; not the same thing--to send a mere maestro di casa,--a servant! It would not be nice for the poor girl; it would make all the difference with the servants and people at the palace: if I avoid going with her to please you, you will go with her yourself, won't you?
human
Very well, very well; I'll go with her. If any man has more to do of his own than all the rest of the city put together, there are sure to be other folk's affairs thrust on him also; it has been sowith me all my life. Well, I will find half an hour somehow.
gpt
Thanks, uncle! Good-by, I wish you well through your meeting.
human
We shall see each other at dinner?
gpt
Yes. A rivederla!