"She was a marchesa. Her father was an intimate friend of the King of Spain, and had given her 1000 gold crowns for her dowry. How much are 1000 crowns?
"What are 1000 crowns?" said Agata contemptuously. "Margherita Carboni has 4000."
"4000?" echoed Rebecca, "you mean 40,000."
"You don't know what you're talking about," cried Aunt Sorchedda, "these were gold crowns. Not even Don Franceschino has so much."
"Go along with you! You're doting," cried Agata, getting heated. "How much do 1000 crowns come to? Franziscu Carchide has them in shoe soles!"
It was getting serious. The women began to abuse each other.
"It's easy to see why she brings in Franziscu Carchide, that scum of a girl!"
"Scum yourself, old sinner!"
"Ah."
| Foglia di gelso | Leaf of the mulberry tree! |
| Chi la fa la pensa. | The thing you do, you everywhere |
| see!" |