Irma had not; she admitted it despondently.  “There is such a vile conspiracy against me in Italy—­and Italy is a poor singer’s fame—­that I should be tempted to do anything.  And I detest la Vittoria.  She has such a hold on this Antonio-Pericles, I don’t see how I can hurt her, unless I meet her and fly at her throat.”

“You naturally detest her,” said the countess.  “Repeat Countess Anna’s proposal to you.”

“It was insulting—­she offered me money.”

“That you should persuade me to assist you in preventing la Vittoria’s marriage to Count Ammiani?”

“Dear lady, you know I did not try to persuade you.”

“You knew that you would not succeed, my Irma.  But Count Ammiani will not marry her; so you will have a right to claim some reward.  I do not think that la Vittoria is quite idle.  Look out for yourself, my child.  If you take to plotting, remember it is a game of two.”

“If she thwarts me in one single step, I will let loose that madman on her,” said Irma, trembling.

“You mean the signor Antonio-Pericles?”

“No; I mean that furious man I saw at your villa, dear countess.”

“Ah!  Barto Rizzo.  A very furious man.  He bellowed when he heard her name, I remember.  You must not do it.  But, for Count Ammiani’s sake, I desire to see his marriage postponed, at least.”

“Where is she?” Irma inquired.

The countess shrugged.  “Even though I knew, I could not prudently tell you in your present excited state.”

She went to Pericles for a loan of money.  Pericles remarked that there was not much of it in Turin.  “But, countess, you whirl the gold-pieces like dust from your wheels; and a spy, my good soul, a lovely secret emissary, she will be getting underpaid if she allows herself to want money.  There is your beauty; it is ripe, but it is fresh, and it is extraordinary.  Yes; there is your beauty.”  Before she could obtain a promise of the money, Violetta had to submit to be stripped to her character, which was hard; but on the other hand, Pericles exacted no interest on his money, and it was not often that he exacted a return of it in coin.  Under these circumstances, ladies in need of money can find it in their hearts to pardon mere brutality of phrase.  Pericles promised to send it to the countess on one condition; which condition he cancelled, saying dejectedly, “I do not care to know where she is.  I will not know.”

“She has the score of Hagar, wherever she is,” said Violetta, “and when she hears that you have done the scene without her aid, you will have stuck a dagger in her bosom.”

“Not,” Pericles cried in despair, “not if she should hear Irma’s Hagar!  To the desert with Irma.  It is the place for a crab-apple.  Bravo, Abraham! you were wise.”

Pericles added that Montini was hourly expected, and that there was to be a rehearsal in the evening.