"That's all right," she said. "Tell Mr. Rossi I shall expect to see him soon ... or no, don't say that ... say that as he is over head and ears in work this week, he is not to think it necessary.... Oh, say anything you like," she said, and the pearly teeth and lovely eyes broke into an aurora of smiles.
Bruno, whose bushy face and shaggy head had never once been raised since he came into the room, said:
"He's busy enough, anyway—what with this big meeting coming off on Wednesday, and the stairs to his room as full of people as the Santa Scala."
"So you've brought little Joseph to see me at last?" said Roma.
"He has bothered my life out to bring him ever since you said he was to be your porter some day."
"And why not? Gentlemen ought to call on the ladies, oughtn't they, Joseph?"
And Joseph, whose curly poll had been hiding behind the leg of his father's trousers, showed half of a face that was shining all over.
"See! See here—do you know who this is? This gentleman in the bust?"
"Uncle David," said the boy.
"What a clever boy you are, Joseph!"