‘What have you written?’ demanded the Emperor.
‘Little things not worth mentioning,’ answered Giustina.
‘Verse or prose?’
‘In prose, sire. I never was able to write a verse in my life.’
‘Ah, then you improvise, you improvise, do you?’
‘I wish I could, sire! for I should have an excellent opportunity to-day of covering myself with glory!’
‘Come, what have you written?’ asked the Emperor impatiently.
A NARROW STREET, NEAR THE ACADEMY