"That will suit me perfectly well; to-morrow, then, at my lodgings
at ten, shall we say?"

"At ten; I will not fail to wait upon you, Signor Lalli, at that
hour. In the meantime I beg you to present my most distinguished
homage to the divina Cantatrice," said the little impresario, taking
off his hat and holding it at arm's length above his head, as he
made a very magnificent bow.

"Servitore suo, stimatissimo Signor Ercole! A dimane!" replied old
Quinto, as he returned the impresario's salutation, with a slighter
and less provincial bow.

"A dimane alle dieci!" rejoined the impresario; and so the two men
parted.

"Not a bad bit of luck," thought the old singing master to himself,
as he sauntered towards his lodging, "that the Marchese should be in
bed this morning. It gives a chance that he may never hear of this
mad scappata with the Signor Ludovico. Lose the Marchese Lamberto!
No, per Bacco! there are other people, beside the good folks of the
city of Ravenna, who can't afford to lose the Marchese Lamberto just
yet!"



CHAPTER VII

An Attorney-at-law in the Papal States