I took leave of the rich and fortunate ambassador at midnight, and before passing the day with my new prize I went to sleep so as to be fresh and capable of running a good course.
I went to Barberine at an early hour, and as soon as she saw me she said,
“My mother will not be back till the evening, and my brother will take his dinner at the school. Here is a fowl, a ham, some cheese, and two bottles of Scopolo wine. We will take our mess whenever you like.”
“You astonish me, sweetheart, for how did you manage to get such a good dinner?”
“We owe it to my mother, so to her be the praise.”
“You have told her, then, what we are going to do?”
“No, not I, for I know nothing about it; but I told her you were coming to see me, and at the same time I gave her the ten sequins.”
“And what did your mother say?”
“She said she wouldn’t be sorry if you were to love me as you loved my sister.”
“I love you better, though I love her well.”