“I’ll be there in less than ten minutes.  But I want first to run just as far as La Lalli’s lodging in the Strada di Porta Sisi, only to ask a question,” said Ludovico.

“La Lalli again!  The devil fly away with her!  It was about her that I wanted to speak to you,” said the lawyer.

“What about her?  Have you seen her?  Do you know where she is?” asked Ludovico, hurriedly and anxiously.

“I seen her!  No.  Where she is?  In her bed most likely, after dancing all last night, I should think!”

“Well, I must run and just ascertain whether she is at home!” said Ludovico, again trying to escape.  But the old lawyer, partly put a little bit out of temper by the young man’s evident wish to get rid of him, partly angered by finding the nephew thus running after the same mischief that was threatening to ruin his uncle, and partly thinking that it was desirable that the news he had to tell should be told before Ludovico should come to speech with his uncle, was determined not to let him escape till he had said what he had to say.

“Very well, Signor.  I can say what I have to say in the street as well as anywhere else.  Though I confess I expected a somewhat more ready reception of information which concerns you nearly, Signor Marchese, and which I am prompted to tell you by my interest in your welfare.  Listen!  Your uncle sent for me this morning for the purpose of announcing to me his intention of marrying this Bianca Lalli!”

“So I have been told this very morning,” said Ludovico.

“I thought you said that you had not seen your uncle this morning!” returned the lawyer.

“No more I have; but are there not two persons from whom such an intention may be learned?” said Ludovico, with a slight approach to a sneer.

“The lady, you mean?” said Fortini.

“Exactly so—­the lady!” rejoined Ludovico.

“The lady herself told you that the Marchese Lamberto had proposed marriage to her?” persisted the lawyer.

“The lady herself told me so,” replied the Marchese.

“But I thought you said that you had only just now returned to the city?” objected the lawyer again.

“Really, Signor Fortini, one would think that I was being examined before a police-magistrate!  However, since my tongue has let the cat out of the bag, you may take the creature, and make the most of her!  I did receive the intelligence in question from the lady concerned, and I have just returned to the city.  She communicated the fact to me during a little excursion we made together to the Pineta this morning, after the ball.  Now you know all about it,” said Ludovico, still in a hurry to get away.

“Not quite!” rejoined Fortini, quite imperturbably.  “If you went to the Pineta with her—­(did anybody ever hear of such a mad thing?)—­ and returned this morning, how can you want to go now to her house to ask whether she is there?”

“Because, you very clever inquisitor, though I went to the Pineta with her, I did not say that I had come back with her.”