“Because the young ladies were getting tired.”
“I have found out that they do not belong to the Venetian ambassador’s household.
“You are right, and I hope you will pardon my small fiction.”
“It was an impromptu effort to avoid telling me who they are, but they are known.”
“Then I congratulate the curious.”
“The one I addressed deserves to excite general curiosity; but if I were in your place I should make her use a little powder.”
“I have not the authority to do so, and if I had, I would not trouble her for the world.”
I was pleased with the Florentine, who listened to all this without saying a word. I got him to talk of England and of his business. He told me that he was going to Florence to take possession of his inheritance, and to get a wife to take back with him to London. As I left, I told him that I could not have the pleasure of calling on him till the day after next, as I was prevented by important business. He told me I must come at dinnertime, and I promised to do so.
Full of love and hope, I went for my two friends, who enjoyed the whole play without any interruption.
When we alighted at the inn I told the coachman to call for me at two, and we then went up to the third floor, where we sat before the fire while the oysters were being opened. They did not interest us as they had done before.