“No, no,” replied the lord. “Rigoletto, Rigoletto has a mistress!”
They all laughed merrily, perhaps a little cruelly, for men and women love to return blow for blow. “What a change, from a hunch-back to a cupid.” They were yet laughing, when the fool passed near them with the duke, who was still thinking of the Ceprano’s wife.
“Steal her away!” said the fool.
“Easily conceived, but not easily performed,” replied the duke.
“This very evening. Have you no prisons, great duke? Can you not banish him? Or take his head?”
“What, Ceprano’s head?” asked the duke aloud, and turning to that noble.
“Yes—what is it good for?”
The count drew his sword as the duke smiled, and the fool affected to be overcome with fear.
“Ah! ah! he is very amusing to-night.” But the fool did not see how menacingly the courtiers drew together, and frowned at him.
The duke lightly warned the fool that he might jest too deeply, and that the count’s sword might end his jokes.