The child Tato occupied a stool at her father's feet, and in the background were three serving women, sewing or embroidering.

Near the Duke stood the tall brigand known as Pietro.
Answering the old woman's fierce tirade, Tato said: "It is foolish to quarrel in Italian.

The servants are listening." "Let us then speak in English," returned the Duchessa.

"These are matters the servants should not gossip about." The Duke nodded assent.

Both Tato and her grandmother spoke easily the foreign tongue; the Duke was more uncertain in his English, but understood it perfectly.
"I am still the head of this family," resumed the Duchessa, in a more moderate tone.