"But what about her husband?"
"Oh, I don't know—let him be arrested."
"No, no, that won't do; he's of noble birth. You are going too far."
"All right! If he is too good to be arrested, then exile him," the dwarf obligingly arranges, showing thereby his notion of the fitness of things.
"No! that would hardly do, either," the Duke exclaimed impatiently.
"Well, cut off his head, then." Rigoletto thought that should be an ending dignified enough for any one. Meantime Ceprano overheard that pleasing conversation.
"They are black-hearted villains," he muttered aside.
"Cut off that head so unbending," the Duke exclaimed, looking at Ceprano, who was really a noble-appearing aristocrat.
"Aye—we have discovered its use. Cut it off; that will make it pliant," the charming dwarf said, facetiously; and that being a bit too much for any noble to put up with, the Count drew his sword.
"Enough! you ribald hunchback," he cried; at which the Duke became uneasy.