"What do you want with me?" said Marietta.
"Only to plead—"
"Nonsense," she exclaimed, interrupting him abruptly; "you don't know me."
"Let me plead—"
"Bother!"
"Nay," said the persistent robber, "if you will not hear me speak, hear me sing."
And then, being an admirable mimic, he imitated her strut before the looking-glass, and general coquettish behaviour in the dressing-room at the villa, while he sang in a falsetto voice—
"Sweet Marietta,
Rarely has been
A sweeter or better
Face or form seen.
Dear Marietta!"
"Hah!" cried the girl, starting back as if she had been shot.
Her first impulse was to faint.