“Your English accent is a caricature of Antonia’s.”
“I don’t have to tell you, I suppose, that I had no idea of personating Antonia.”
“The very difference between the original and your imitation might seem the result of an effort on her part to disguise her speech.”
“I’ve been a fool, of course, and some of the blame is mine, but just let me get hold of Italo and watch me shake the teeth out of his confounded little head. I remember perfectly speaking to the old general that we saw at Antonia’s that day and to the old viscount who came to my ball.”
“Do you remember what you said?”
257“Not exactly, but in both cases it seemed harmless. I wouldn’t have said it if it hadn’t seemed harmless. I couldn’t have wished to insult them, how could any one suppose it? To the general it was something about a horse.”
Gerald gave a sound of raging disgust.
Aurora waited, watching him.
“Was it very bad?” she asked finally, and held her breath for his answer.
“Just as bad as possible. Ceccherelli deserves to be flayed. Is the man mad? And what, may I ask, did you say to De Brézé?”