Corona spoke at once.
"Donna Tullia," she said, quietly, "I have the honour to offer you an opportunity of explaining yourself." Madame Mayer remained seated by the table, her face red with anger.

She leaned back in her seat, and half closing her eyes with a disagreeable look of contempt, she addressed Giovanni.
"I am sorry to cause you such profound humiliation," she began, "but in the interest of the Duchessa d'Astrardente I feel bound to speak.

Don Giovanni, do you remember Aquila ?" "Certainly," he replied, coolly--"I have often been there.

What of it ?" Old Saracinesca stared from one to the other.
"What is this comedy ?" he asked of Corona.

But she nodded to him to be silent.
"Then you doubtless remember Felice Baldi--poor Felice Baldi," continued Donna Tullia, still gazing scornfully up at Giovanni from where she sat.
"I never heard the name, that I can remember," answered Giovanni, as though trying to recall some memory of the past.