Though I confess I expected a somewhat more ready reception of information which concerns you nearly, Signor Marchese, and which I am prompted to tell you by my interest in your welfare.

Listen! Your uncle sent for me this morning for the purpose of announcing to me his intention of marrying this Bianca Lalli!" "So I have been told this very morning," said Ludovico.
"I thought you said that you had not seen your uncle this morning!" returned the lawyer.
"No more I have; but are there not two persons from whom such an intention may be learned ?" said Ludovico, with a slight approach to a sneer.
"The lady, you mean ?" said Fortini.
"Exactly so--the lady!" rejoined Ludovico.
"The lady herself told you that the Marchese Lamberto had proposed marriage to her ?" persisted the lawyer.
"The lady herself told me so," replied the Marchese.
"But I thought you said that you had only just now returned to the city ?" objected the lawyer again.
"Really, Signor Fortini, one would think that I was being examined before a police-magistrate! However, since my tongue has let the cat out of the bag, you may take the creature, and make the most of her! I did receive the intelligence in question from the lady concerned, and I have just returned to the city.

She communicated the fact to me during a little excursion we made together to the Pineta this morning, after the ball.

Now you know all about it," said Ludovico, still in a hurry to get away.
"Not quite!" rejoined Fortini, quite imperturbably.

"If you went to the Pineta with her--( did anybody ever hear of such a mad thing ?)--and returned this morning, how can you want to go now to her house to ask whether she is there ?" "Because, you very clever inquisitor, though I went to the Pineta with her, I did not say that I had come back with her." "The deuce you did not! Did another gentleman undertake the duty of escorting the lady back to town?
It is all exceedingly pleasant for the Marchese Lamberto, upon my word!--oh, exceedingly!--and really a foretaste to him of the joys to come, quite frankly offered to him on the part of the lady!" sneered the old lawyer.
"Pshaw! how she may have come back, or with whom, I don't know, and can't guess; and that is just what I am anxious to find out," said Ludovico, in provoked impatience.
"I don't understand.