“We will go round to your friend the signor Antonio-Pericles at Villa Ricciardi,” she said. “You will see that he treats me familiarly, but he is not a lover of mine. I suspect your 'something' has something to do with the Jesuits.”
Adela Sedley replied to the penultimate sentence: “It would not surprise me, indeed, to hear of any number of adorers.”
“I have the usual retinue, possibly,” said Violetta.
“Dear countess, I could be one of them myself!” Adela burst out with tentative boldness.
“Then, kiss me.”
And behold, they interchanged that unsweet feminine performance.
Adela's lips were unlocked by it.
“How many would envy me, dear Countess d'Isorella!”
She really conceived that she was driving into Violetta's heart by the great high-road of feminine vanity. Violetta permitted her to think as she liked.
“Your countrywomen, madame, do not make large allowances for beauty, I hear.”