'You serve the Neapolitan, Ione?'
'I am with her at present,' answered Nydia.
'Is she as handsome as they say?'
'I know not,' replied Nydia. 'How can I judge?'
'Ah! I should have remembered. But thou hast ears, if not eyes. Do thy fellow-slaves tell thee she is handsome? Slaves talking with one another forget to flatter even their mistress.'
'They tell me that she is beautiful.'
'Hem!—say they that she is tall?'
'Yes.'
'Why, so am I. Dark haired?'
'I have heard so.'