Irma, whom the
Italian people call "crabapple." Well; she pleases German ears, and if
they can support her, it is well. But la Vittoria--your Belloni--you will
not hear; and why? She has been false to her Art, false! She has become a
little devil in politics. It is a Guy Fawkes femelle! She has been guilty
of the immense crime of ingratitude. She is dismissed to study, to
penitence, and to the society of her old friends, if they will visit
her.'

'Of course we will,' said the English lady; 'either before or after our
visit to Venice--delicious Venice!'

'Which you have not seen--hein?' Mr. Pericles snarled; 'and have not
smelt. There is no music in Venice! But you have nothing but street
tinkle-tinkle! A place to live in! mon Dieu!'

The lady smiled. 'My husband insists upon trying the baths of Bormio, and
then we are to go over a pass for him to try the grape-cure at Meran. If
I can get him to promise me one whole year in Italy, our visit to Venice
may be deferred. Our doctor, monsieur, indicates our route. If my brother
can get leave of absence, we shall go to Bormio and to Meran with him. He
is naturally astonished that Emilia refused to see him; and she refused
to see us too! She wrote a letter, dated from the Conservatorio to him,
he had it in his saddlebag, and was robbed of it and other precious
documents, when the wretched, odious people set upon him in Verona-poor
boy! She said in the letter that she would see him in a few days after
the fifteenth, which is to-day!

'Ah! a few days after the fifteenth, which is to-day,' Mr. Pericles
repeated. 'I saw you but the day before yesterday, madame, or I could
have brought you together.

She is now away-off--out of sight--the perfule! Ah false that she is;
speak not of her. You remember her in England. There it was trouble,
trouble; but here, we are a pot on a fire with her; speak not of her. She
has used me ill, madame. I am sick.'

His violent gesticulation drooped. In a temporary abandonment to chagrin,
he wiped the moisture from his forehead, unwilling or heedless of the
mild ironical mouthing of the ladies, and looked about; for Carlo had
made a movement to retire,--he had heard enough for discomfort.

'Ah! my dear Ammiani, the youngest editor in Europe! how goes it with
you?' the Greek called out with revived affability.

Captain Gambier perceived that it was time to present his Italian
acquaintance to the ladies by name, as a friend of Mademoiselle Bello