It took place in the Italian language.
That beautiful tongue was not to say elegantly spoken upon either side.
The gentleman spoke as a foreigner, but imperfectly acquainted with the idiom.
"Sir," said the lady, after an embarrassing silence upon his part, "I scarcely know if I ought to be here."
"Nor I either, my dear lady," began the gallant.
But then, aware that this was not exactly what might have been expected of him, he stammered and broke down.
"Poor prince," thought the lady, with a very unladylike chuckle to herself. "How embarrassed he is."
The cavalier stared at her through the great eyes in his mask, as he muttered to himself—
"She is evidently in love with me very badly; I am curious to learn how a princess makes love. I am anxious only of course to study it as a matter of curiosity."
"I ought not to have come here, prince," said the lady, in a nervous tone.