"Thanks, no. I think I will go to my mother."
Ghisleri took her to the Princess's side and left her.
"You seemed to be having a very interesting conversation with Miss Carlyon just now," said the Contessa dell' Armi as he sat down beside her a quarter of an hour later. "What were you talking about?"
"Sin," answered Ghisleri, laconically.
"With a young girl!" exclaimed the Contessa. "But then—English—"
"You need not raise your eyebrows, nor talk in that tone, my dear lady," replied Ghisleri. "Miss Carlyon is quite beyond sarcasms of that sort. Since you are curious, she was telling me that it was sinful to say the things you were good enough to listen to in the tableau, even in a play."
"Ah? And you will be persuaded, I dare say. What beautiful eyes she has. It is a pity she is so clumsy and heavily made. Really, has she got you to promise that you will never say any of those things again—after the way I ended the piece for you?"
"No. I have not promised to be good yet. As for your ending of the performance, I confess I was surprised."
"You did not show it."
"It would hardly have been in keeping with my part, would it? But I can show you that I am grateful at least."