yes! perfectly applicable in all cases, Signora. It is only to have
no heart to lose, having lost it already," returned he.

"Oh, come! This is a confidence dans les regles! And in return for
it, Signor Ludovico, do you know--speaking in all seriousness--that-
-if we really do put this wild scheme into execution--I have a
confidence to give you, and may take that opportunity of making it--
a confidence, not which may or may not be made, like yours, but
which I ought to make to you, the necessity of making which
furnishes, to say the truth, a very plausible reason for our
projected tete-a-tete."

"Davvero, Signora! Better and better; I shall be charmed to receive
such a mark of your friendship," said Ludovico, thinking and caring
little on what subject it might be that the Diva purposed speaking
to him: "and then, the fact is," he continued, "that to-morrow
morning will be the best morning for the purpose of all the days of
the year. For we shall be quite sure that every soul here will be in
bed and asleep. On the first morning in Lent one is tolerably safe
not to fall in with early risers. Our little trip, you may be very
sure, will never be heard of by anybody, unless we choose to tell of
it ourselves."

"And I am sure that I do not see why we should not," said Bianca.

"I see no reason against telling all the town, for my part,"
rejoined Ludovico; "afterwards though--you understand; and not
beforehand, or our little escapade would be spoilt by some blockhead
or other insisting on joining us. Our friend Leandro there, for
instance; think of it!"