have gone with any other man in the town."

"I am sure," said Gigia, with a virtuous toss of the head, "she
would not wish to go with any one of them."

"And she would wish to go with the Marchese Ludovico! There's all
the mischief. Just what I am afraid of. I tell you, Gigia, that if
the Marchese Lamberto hears of her going off in this manner with his
nephew, the game is all up. He would never forgive it."

"You will excuse me, Signor Quinto," said Gigia, with a demure air
of speaking modestly on a subject which she perfectly well
understood--"You will excuse me, if I tell you that I know a great
deal better than that. There's men, Signor Quinto, who are in love
because they like it; and there's others who are in love whether
they like it or no, because they can't help themselves!"

"And you fancy the Marchese Lamberto is one of those who can't help
himself, eh?" grumbled Quinto discontentedly.

"If I ever saw a man who was so limed that he couldn't help himself,
it's that poor creature of a Marchese! He's caught safe enough, you
may take my word for that, Signor Quinto. He's caught, and can't
budge, I tell you--hand nor foot, body nor soul! Lord bless you, I
know 'em. Why, do you think he'd ever have come near my mistress a
second time if he could have helped himself? He's not like your
young 'uns, who come to amuse themselves. Likely enough, he'd give
half of all he's worth this day never to have set eyes on her; but,
as for giving her up, he could as soon give himself up!"