The Commendatore, however, was a thousand miles from these considerations. He glared fiercely at her--as fiercely as it was _in_ his mild old eyes to glare. He held himself erect and aloof, in a posture that was eloquent of haughty indignation.
"I will ask your Excellency a single question. Are you or are you not the Countess of Sampaolo?" he demanded sternly.
"At your service--unless I was changed at nurse," she assented, dropping a curtsey; and an imp laughed in her eyes.
"And are you aware," the Commendatore pursued, with the tremor of restrained passion in his voice, "that the Countess of Sampaolo, a countess in her own right, is a public personage? Are you aware that the actions you are proposing--which would be disgraceful enough if you were any little obscure bourgeoise--must precipitate a public scandal? Have you reflected that it will all be printed in the newspapers, for men to snigger at in their cafes, for women to cackle over in their boudoirs? Have you reflected that you will make yourself a nine-days' wonder, a subject for tittle-tattle with all the gossip-mongers of Europe? Are you without pride, without modesty?"
Susanna arched her eyebrows, in amiable surprise.
"Oh?" she said. "Have I omitted to mention that I 'm to do the whole thing in masquerade? How stupid of me. Yes,"--her voice became explanatory,--"it's essential, you see, that my cousin Antonio should never dream who I really am. He must fancy that I 'm just anybody--till the time comes for me to cast my domino, and reveal the fairy-princess. So I travel under a nom-de-guerre. I 'm a widow, a rich, charming, dashing, not too-disconsolate widow; and my name . . . is Madame Fregi."
She brought out the last words after an instant's irresolution, and marked them by a hazardous little smile.
"What!" thundered the Commendatore. "You would dare to take _my_ name as a cloak for your escapades? I forbid it. Understand. I peremptorily forbid it."
He stamped his foot, he nodded his outraged head, menacingly.
"Dear me," she grieved; "I hoped you would be touched by the compliment. How strange men are. Never mind, though," she said, with gay resignation. "I 'll call myself something else. Let's think. . . . Would--would Torrebianca do?" Her eyes sought counsel from his face.