“Certainly. Just think, he has been in love this summer three or four times with foreigners—American, Russian, English. And now the wretch does nothing but speak badly of Italian girls.”
“How all our sweethearts take away these foreign women!”
“Let us give them an exchange. Let us go abroad with our mammas and marry Russian princes, English dukes and American millionaires.”
“A good idea; but our Italians are so sympathetic. Look at Marco Fiore over there; what a handsome youth! I would have married him very gladly.”
“And you would have done very badly.”
“Why?”
“Why ... do you know nothing? you are too simple.”
“Tell me why; tell me.”
“Another time. How late it is, and the ball can’t be opened till the Emperor comes!”
“Shall we see a state quadrille danced?”