'How!' cried Pericles, amazed, and plucking after Carlo to stop him. 'I bet you—'
'How much?'
'I bet you a thousand florins you do not see la Vittoria to-night.'
'Good. I bet you a thousand florins you do not see Irma.'
'No Vittoria, I say!'
'And I say, no Lazzeruola!'
Agostino, who was pacing the lobby, sent Pericles distraught with the same tale of the rape of Irma. He rushed to Signora Piaveni's box and heard it repeated. There he beheld, sitting in the background, an old English acquaintance, with whom Captain Gambier was conversing.
'My dear Powys, you have come all the way from England to see your favourite's first night. You will be shocked, sir. She has neglected her Art. She is exiled, banished, sent away to study and to compose her mind.'
'I think you are mistaken,' said Laura. 'You will see her almost immediately.'
'Signora, pardon me; do I not know best?'