A great Prince, a stranger to Venice, they said, who has bought the Cavaliere Palazzo on the Grand Canal. Gossip is full of it. He has sworn to make it more beautiful than Cosimo Medici’s in Florence——
Paulo
That odious name again! (Smiling.) It haunts you, Little Child! (She starts.) Don’t move! don’t move! The pose is perfect.
Lucia
Haunts the gossip of the town, rather—for which you asked me, Signor! The ceilings are to be painted with classical scenes alone—the loves of Apollo, and Athena’s triumph.
Paulo
What subjects! And I know that Palazzo. Its ceilings are superb, enormous! Painting the very sky! (Steps back to examine his work.) It’s coming, it’s coming, the very colour I wanted. Yes, yes, they are the biggest in all Venice, so I’m told. (Turns to her.) Now, just suppose, Lucia—just suppose that one day——
Lucia
(Nervous.) Paulo, beloved, do not stop. Paint on quickly. You are in your best vein. Paint on before—before the light changes. Yes, and I heard one other thing.