"But what have you heard?"
"What everybody hears when Dutri can't hold his tongue."
"What about?"
"About a certain tender parting at Castel Vaza...."
The Marquis of Xardi bursts out laughing. Lady Danbury suddenly clutches his arm:
"I say, Xardi, I know less slender people than the Marchioness of Dazzara who would fall into a decline if they lost the imperial favour. Et toi?"
The marquis laughs loudly and:
"Even the crown-princely favour," he whispers, behind Lady Danbury's Watteau fan.
And they chuckle with laughter together.
"His imperial highness the Duke of Xara; their excellencies Count Ducardi, Prince Dutri and the Marquis of Leoni!" are announced, slowly and impressively.