“Ah, you have forgotten everything, Toppi! Don’t you remember about that play? That I wanted to play?”
“Yes, you did say something about it. But I thought you were joking.”
“No, I was not joking. I was only mistaken. They do play here but this is not a theater. It is a gambling house and so I gave all my money to Magnus: let him break the bank. You understand? He is the banker, he will manage the game and I shall simply do the betting.... Quite a life, eh?”
Apparently the old fool understood nothing. He kept raising and lowering his eyebrows and again inquired:
“And how soon may we expect your betrothal to Signorina Maria?”
“I do not know yet, Toppi. But that is not the thing. I see you are dissatisfied. You do not trust Magnus?”
“Oh, Signor Magnus is a worthy man. But one thing I do fear, Mr. Wondergood, if you will permit me to be frank: he is a man who does not believe. This seems strange to me: how can the father of Signorina Maria be a non-believer? Is that not so? Permit me to ask: do you intend to give anything to his Eminence?”
“That depends now on Magnus.”
“Oh! On Signor Magnus? So, so. And do you know that His Eminence has already been to see Signor Magnus? He was here a few days ago and spent several hours in this study. You were not at home at that time.”
“No, I do not know. We have not spoken about that, but have no fear: we will find something for the cardinal. Confess, old man: you are quite enchanted with that old monkey?”