‘The world says, you are more beautiful than ever.’
‘Happiness does it, then,—happiness owing to you, Lord Fleetwood.’
‘Columelli pleases you?’
‘His voice is heavenly! He carries me away from earth.’
‘He is a gentleman, too-rare with those fellows.’
‘A pretty manner. He will speak his compliments in his English.’
‘You are seasoned to endure them in all languages. Pity another of your wounded: Brailstone has been hard hit at the tables.
‘I cannot pity gamblers.—May I venture?—half a word?’
‘Tomes! But just a little compassion for the devoted. He wouldn’t play so madly—if, well, say a tenth dilution of the rapt hearing Columelli gets.’
‘Signor Columelli sings divinely.’