“Giovanna Casacalenda ... that’s one.”
“And my relations the Valgheras ... two.”
“And Passalancias ... three.”
“We’ll dance, Nini. If I didn’t dance I should get too fat. It will be capital exercise for me. Does your melancholy skeleton of a friend dance?”
“Lucia?”
“Yes.”
“She didn’t dance much. She liked the lancers and the mazurka, I remember. The waltz tried her strength too much.”
“A woman who is always ill! who faints away in your arms at any moment! What a bore!”
“Oh, Andrea!”
“At least you are always well, Nini.”