When the meal was over, she established herself in a comfortable chair in the little sitting-room, and took a book.

After a few minutes, Donna Tullia suggested to Del Ferice that they should go into the drawing-room.

She had received some new waltz-music from Vienna which she wanted to look over, and Ugo might help her.

She was not a musician, but was fond of a cheerful noise, and played upon the piano with the average skill of a well-educated young woman of the world.

Of course the doors were left open between the drawing-room and the boudoir, where the Countess dozed over her book and presently fell asleep.
Donna Tullia sat at the grand piano, and made Del Ferice sit beside her.
She struck a few chords, and played a fragment of dance-music.
"Of course you have heard that Don Giovanni is gone ?" she asked, carelessly.