"Oh, yes, she may claim descent, and call herself a princess and all that. They all do, I believe. You should have seen her look when I told her Mahound was a false prophet—"
"She's very touchy about that, I well know," said Caterina.
"Touchy? Why, I believe she prays to him still—swears by him at any rate. There is no sounding the depths of these Paynims."
"I believe you would find great love for yourself in the depths of Cynthia's heart,—poor, darkened young thing—if you could sound it, Signora."
"Ah, but unfortunately, I cannot; and she behaved very improperly to me in the cavern."
"You shock me, Illustrissima!"
"She thrust the lamp into my hand, saying: 'Hold the light!' and stamped!"
"Inconceivable! Abominable!" ejaculated Caterina. "What could she have been thinking of?"
"And she brandished a dagger! Not to kill me, but telling me to kill her. So uncalled for!"