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Diodora said this to me in the presence of Flamma, and in the hearing of Siegfried, who, on the balcony, could hear every word through the open door; and, as she said it, her great Juno-like eyes rested on mine with an expression of enthusiastic admiration. Yes! such might have been the look which the goddess bestowed on poor, silly Ixion as she lured him on and then left a cloud in his arms.
"I say that I am no usurer, and cannot take unlawful interest," I replied. "Bravo! bravissimo! A usurer! Unlawful interest he calls a kiss! Oh, what a moral fellow!" cried Siegfried; but Countess Diodora observed that breakfast was waiting, and that we had time enough for ventilating academic questions afterward. At the table I sat between Countess Diodora and Countess Flamma.
"Indeed? You seem bent on proving that the four-leaved clover was a true prophet of marriage. You want to make the match?" "Why not? But, indeed, I am speaking in good faith. Why don't you marry Aunt Diodora?" "Because I have more sense than those poor birds who shatter their heads and beaks in flying against the reflected rays of the lighthouse." "I don't understand the simile."
I have also paid the election expenses up to date, and thanked Siegfried for his good intentions. Henceforth we shall be friendly neighbours, but not friends. Now give me leave to say good-night to you. To-morrow morning I'll drive over to pay a professional visit to Countess Diodora." "Don't go home now," she said, holding my hand; "the night is dark, and something might happen to you.
The explanation was, even as an allusion, objectionable in the presence of girls. Nevertheless I could perceive through the cloud of smoke that the pale face of Flamma had coloured violently, and that Cenni pouted and pushed the sun-bird away. The innocents were not so very innocent, after all. "Is not this beetle identical with the holy scarabæus of the Egyptians?" asked Countess Diodora. "No.
I told them of the South American Hercules-beetle, that is as fond of liquor as any human tippler, and I really thought that I had succeeded in turning the conversation from the horned devil to the horned beetle, when Countess Diodora said "You are too much of a naturalist. This won't do, and you must try to amend.
In the centre of this space the breakfast-table was set the shining silver, the glittering crystal, and the creamy china forming a pleasant contrast to the rural simplicity of the chairs and table and the green roof and walls above and around. Countess Diodora was already there, expecting us. The two girls were in the grotto, pretending to be busy with the preparations for breakfast.
"My aunt sends you this." I broke the rose-coloured wax, and drew out a tiny piece of bristol-board with the signature of Countess Diodora Vernöczy. Its contents were as follows: "Pray accept the nomination." That was all.
To me Countess Diodora was conspicuously kind, and showed me an exceptional preference that is, she did me the honour to select me as her antagonist in debate. When she supported one paradox, I would support the opposite, and we kept up a constant battle with intellectual weapons.
Then, again, I have seen the Devil in the opera, as Göthe and Gounod's creation of Mephistopheles in Faust, and there he wore a goat's-beard and red-feathered cap, was a little lame in one leg, and had a baritone voice. He was not in the least beautiful." "You ought to read Klopstock, then, and Milton," said Countess Diodora.
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