human
A thousand pardons, Signora; your servant--
gpt
The Marchese Lamberto! It is unpardonable in the woman--to have so failed in her duty-towards your Excellency! It is I who have to beg your indulgence, Signor Marchese. Can it be one o'clock already? In truth I had no idea it was so late; and I have still to dress! How can I apologize to your Excellency sufficiently for appearing before you in this dishabille?
human
Nay, Signora, it is in truth I who have to apologize; it is not yet one o'clock, it is not much past twelve! And I feel that I am guilty of an unwarrantable intrusion. But I hoped for the opportunity of having a few words of conversation before the hour named for our little business with our good Signor Ercole. Permit me to assure you, Signora, that if your servant had given me the least hint that you were not yet--ready to see any visitor--
gpt
If only your Excellency will excuse--the fact is, I have so rarely any visitors that the poor woman does not understand her duty in such matters. Really I am so covered with confusion, --she continued, putting up her delicate little hand with a feeble sort of little attempt to draw her dress a little more together across her throat.
human
I cannot forgive her! She has exposed me to seem wanting in respect towards your Excellency; I will dismiss her from my service!
gpt
Let me intercede for her, poor woman! said the Marchese, advancing into the room;
human
One word from la sua Signoria is enough. If you can forgive me, I must forgive her! But you will own, Signor Marchese, that it is--what shall I say--? She hesitated and cast her eyes down with a bewitching smile and a little movement of her head to one side,
gpt
But now it has happened, Signora, said the Marchese, emboldened by the smile, and by a shy sidelong glance, which she shot from under her eye-lashes with a laugh in her eyes, as she spoke;
human
Will you be very discreet, Signor? she said, putting a slender rosy finger up to her smiling lips;
gpt
Not a syllable, not a whisper! replied the Marchese, taking her tone, and putting his own finger on his lips.
human
And then, I may say, Signora, that in Ravenna a visit at any hour from old Lamberto di Castelmare would do your fair name no harm!
gpt
I dare say it might not, if I am to judge of his position in the society from your own, Signor Marchese. But I did not know, that there was any old Signor Lamberto di Castelmare. I supposed you were the head of the family, your uncle, perhaps?
human
I have no uncle, Signora! I am the oldest Castelmare extant,
gpt
And you call yourself old Lamberto, Marchese! Why I would wager my pearl necklace,--and that is the most valuable possession I have--against a daisy chain, that you are not ten years older than I am. I shall be called old Bianca Lalli next, at that rate!
human
And how many years, since you are ready to wager on it,--have gone to the bringing the face and form I see before me to their matchless perfection?
gpt
Who was ever before so prettily asked how old she was? said Bianca, suffering her large blue eyes to rest fully on the Marchese's face for an instant, and then dropping them with an air of conscious embarrassment.
human
Well, a frank question deserves--or at least shall have--a frank answer! I shall never see my twenty-fourth birthday again?
gpt
And you judge me then to be thirty-four!
human
Certainly I don't think any room full of strangers would judge you to be more than that,
gpt
Ta!--ta!--ta! Add fifteen years to that; and you will be nearer the mark. So you see, bella Signora, that you may safely trust yourself to a tete-a-tete with me under any circumstances.
human
Ta!--ta!--ta! said Bianca, repeating his own phrase, with a merry laugh in her eyes, and shaking her rich auburn curls at him.
gpt
It seems impossible, utterly incredible! But I am very glad if it is so,--very glad. There is nothing so intolerable to me as the young lads who come buzzing about one circumstanced as I am, and whom it is as difficult to drive away as it is to drive away flies in summer. There is no trusting to them; they would compromise a poor girl as soon as look at her, if she was fool enough to let them. And I have had lessons in the necessity of caution, Signor Marchese. I have been cruelly treated,--very cruelly calumniated! And Bianca, knowing, it is to be supposed, that, if it is not always the case that
human
Beauty's tear is lovelier than her smile,