“Too fat, caro mio, too fat!” replied Nina.
“And she has eight penances in the week,” grunted out the canon.
“There 's nothing like wickedness for embonpoint, padre,” said Nina, laughing.
“Angels always are represented as chubby girls,” said the priest, whose temper seemed to improve as he ate on.
“Midchekoff, I thought, was out of temper all the evening,” resumed Jekyl; “he went about with his glass in his eye, seeking for flaws in the lapis lazuli, or retouches in the pictures; and seemed terribly provoked at the goodness of the supper.”
“I forgive him all, for not dancing with 'my Lady,'” said Nina. “She kept herself disengaged for the prince for half the night, and the only reward was his Russian compliment of, 'What a bore is a ball when one is past the age of dancing!'”
“Did the Noncio eat much?” asked the padre, who seemed at once curious and envious about the dignitary.
“He played whist all night,” said Jekyl, “and never changed his partner!”
“The old Marchesa Guidotti?”
“The same. You know of that, then, padre?” asked Jekyl.