Juno was quick to follow her prompt action with suitable words. “You dogs of Genovese!” she said, sweeping the company with her flashing eyes. “Do you like the bust now? Did you think I would stand still and be made a fool of, or that I would fall down and weep?” Then, turning to Carolina, “And you, Signorina Old Maid, you are a large piece of stupidity.”
“Ha! You do not like my present!” said Carolina, ready for the combat. “That is a grand pity. But, mark you, on her wedding day a married maid must be suited to her heart’s full desire. I will give you another present—yes, a present that every married maid must have. Do you guess? No? How strange!” She went into the hall and called, “Bertino!” Instantly he darted in and stood panting before his wife. “Here is the other present, my married maid—your husband!”
At the same moment there arose from the parlour a tumult of voices, and Angelica entered and said that the priest had arrived.
“Are you her husband?” groaned Signor Di Bello, his hope all gone.
“Yes,” Bertino answered, glaring at Juno. “She is my wife, the viper! She put me up to stabbing you, my uncle. She told me you annoyed her; that she did not want you. But she shall pay!” he cried, waving his hand above his head. “Do you hear, you Neapolitan thief? You shall pay. After that to inferno with you, and may you remain there as long as it takes a crab to go round the world! Figlia of a priest! Wolf of——”
“Stop!” broke in Signor Di Bello. Going up to Juno, he asked mournfully, “Is he your husband?”
She answered, tossing her head: “He says so. Let him prove it.”
Signor Di Bello grasped the other end of the straw. “Ah, yes; prove it,” he roared, while Carolina smiled snugly, for she had looked to it that the properties for this scene were not lacking.
“You want proof?” asked Bertino. “Well, it is here.” He drew a marriage certificate from his pocket.
Signor Di Bello seized the document and cast his eye over it. The disorder below had redoubled, and with the noisy demands for the bride and groom were mingled derisive shouts of “Long live the Genovese bachelor!” and “Another fiasco!”