“I won’t come back neither,” laughed Letizia, pirouetting.
“Pull your cloak round you, shameless minx.”
“No, and I won’t do that, neither.”
She flung it farther from her and taunted him with the sight of her legs so slim and so shapely in the light blue silk.
“You dursn’t run after me, Caleb, or you’ll be taken to Bedlam for a lunatic when the people see you running after me like a draggle-tailed duck. Quack-quack, Caleb! I’m the grand finale to-night, and if you won’t give me champagne I’ll find some one who will, and he’ll have the grandest finale of all.”
Unfortunately for Letizia when she turned round to run away she ran into her mother, who caught her by the ear and led her back into the alcove.
“Sei pazza?” she demanded.
“If I am mad, it’s his fault,” protested Letizia angrily. “Let go of my ear, mamma! You’re hurting me.”
“Vuoi far la putanella, eh?”[3] cried Madame Oriano furiously, squeezing her daughter’s ear even harder.
[3] “You want to play the little wanton, eh?”