``Your country is noted for its beautiful women?''

``We have exquisite types of femininity
in Tuscany,'' said the young man,
with patriotic ardor.

``Any as fine looking as--as--as--well,
say the young lady we dined with to-night?''

``Miss Wallace?'' queried the Tuscan.

``Yes, Miss Wallace,'' this rather impatiently.

``She is very beautiful,'' said Diotti,
with solemn admiration.

``Have you ever seen any one prettier?''
questioned the old man, after a
second prolonged sip.

``I have no desire to see any one
more beautiful,'' said the violinist, feeling
that the other was trying to draw
him out, and determined not to yield.

``You will pardon the inquisitiveness
of an old man, but are not you musicians
a most impressionable lot?''