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"I had no idea," said Christina, surveying the assembly, "that you had such a lot of grand people, or I would not have come in. The servant said nothing; he took me for an invitee. I came to spend a neighborly half-hour; you know I have n't many left! It was too dismally dreary at home. I hoped I should find you alone, and I brought Stenterello to play with the cat.
"Yes, he 's very handsome," she murmured. "He 's a Florentine. The dogs in Florence are handsomer than the people." And on Rowland's caressing him: "His name is Stenterello," she added. "Stenterello, give your hand to the gentleman." This order was given in Italian. "Say buon giorno a lei."
Stenterello thrust out his paw and gave four short, shrill barks; upon which the elder lady turned round and raised her forefinger. "My dear, my dear, remember where you are! Excuse my foolish child," she added, turning to Roderick with an agreeable smile. "She can think of nothing but her poodle."
"I am teaching him to talk for me," the young girl went on, without heeding her mother; "to say little things in society. It will save me a great deal of trouble. Stenterello, love, give a pretty smile and say tanti complimenti!" The poodle wagged his white pate it looked like one of those little pads in swan's-down, for applying powder to the face and repeated the barking process.
Last summer, at Carlsbad, there was an Austrian count, with enormous estates and some great office at court. He was very attentive seriously so; he was really very far gone. Cela ne tenait qu' a moi! But I could n't; he was impossible! He must have measured, from ear to ear, at least a yard and a half. And he was blond, too, which made it worse as blond as Stenterello; pure fleece!
The specialties of the Florentine character are popularly supposed to be embodied in "Stenterello," who comes on the Florentine stage, in pieces written for the purpose, every Carnival, to the never-failing delight of the populace. Stenterello is an absurd figure with a curling pigtail, large cocked hat, and habiliments meant to represent those of a Tuscan citizen of some hundred years or so ago.
Well, there was in those days a famous Stenterello, really a very clever fellow in his way, who for many years had been the delight of the Florentines every Carnival. But one year a rival theatre produced a new and rival Stenterello. Of course the old and established Stenterello could not stand this without using the license of the popular stage to overwhelm his rival with ridicule.
"To satisfy Miss Light," said the Cavaliere, "one of the old Greeks ought to come to life." "It would be worth his while," said Roderick, paying, to Rowland's knowledge, his first compliment. "I might sit to Phidias, if he would promise to be very amusing and make me laugh. What do you say, Stenterello? would you sit to Phidias?" "We must talk of this some other time," said Mrs. Light.
"Happy man! Stenterello" and she pointed to his face "wake him up!" The poodle extended a long pink tongue and began to lick Roderick's cheek. "Why," asked Rowland, "if he is happy?" "Oh, I want companions in misery! Besides, I want to show off my dog." Roderick roused himself, sat up, and stared. By this time Mrs. Light had approached, walking with a gentleman on each side of her.
"Meanwhile we are alone?" And she glanced into the dusky corners of the room. "Unless Stenterello counts," said Rowland. "Oh, he knows my secrets unfortunate brute!" She sat silent awhile, looking into the firelight. Then at last, glancing at Rowland, "Come! say something pleasant!" she exclaimed. "I have been very happy to hear of your engagement." "No, I don't mean that.
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