"Take your abuse and yourself somewhere else," replied Mrs. Belswin, bringing her hand down sharply on the table. "I tell you I'm busy. You never leave me alone, Stephano. You followed me over from America, and now you stay beside me all day. Why do you make such a fool of yourself?"
"Because I love thee, carissima. Let me light this; not at thine eyes--stelle radiante--but from thy cigarette. Grazia!"
Mrs. Belswin knew of old that when Ferrari was in this humour nothing reasonable could be expected from him; so, resigned to the inevitable, she let him light his cigarette as he wished, then, flinging herself down on her chair, looked moodily at him.
"How long is this foolery going to last?" she demanded caustically.
"Till you become the Signora Ferrari."
"That will never be."
"Nay, angela mia--it will be some day."
"Was there ever such a man?" burst out Mrs. Belswin, viciously. "He won't take no for an answer."
"Not from thee, Donna Lucrezia."
"Don't call me Donna Lucrezia.