"The manager of the theatre," she said, "is a miser who has given us only fifty Roman crowns for the whole carnival.

We have spent them for our living, and, to return to Bologna, we shall have to walk and beg our way." Her confidence moved my pity, so I took a gold quadruple from my purse and offered it to her; she wept for joy and gratitude.
"I promise you another gold quadruple, madam," I said, "if you will confide in me entirely.

Confess that Bellino is a pretty woman in disguise." "I can assure you it is not so, although he has the appearance of a woman." "Not only the appearance, madam, but the tone, the manners; I am a good judge." "Nevertheless, he is a boy, for he has had to be examined before he could sing on the stage here." "And who examined him ?" "My lord bishop's chaplain." "A chaplain ?" "Yes, and you may satisfy yourself by enquiring from him." "The only way to clear my doubts would be to examine him myself." "You may, if he has no objection, but truly I cannot interfere, as I do not know what your intentions are." "They are quite natural." I returned to my room and sent Petronio for a bottle of Cyprus wine.

He brought the wine and seven sequins, the change for the doubloon I had given him.

I divided them between Bellino, Cecilia and Marina, and begged the two young girls to leave me alone with their brother.
"Bellino, I am certain that your natural conformation is different from mine; my dear, you are a girl." "I am a man, but a castrato; I have been examined." "Allow me to examine you likewise, and I will give you a doubloon." "I cannot, for it is evident that you love me, and such love is condemned by religion." "You did not raise these objections with the bishop's chaplain." "He was an elderly priest, and besides, he only just glanced at me." "I will know the truth," said I, extending my hand boldly.
But he repulsed me and rose from his chair.