The
Marchesa was slowly fanning herself, already seated at her place.
"If you are human beings, and not astronomers," she said, "we might
perhaps dine."
"I am very human, for my part," said San Miniato, holding Beatrice's
chair for her to sit down.
"There was really no use for the lamp, mamma," she said, turning again
to look at the moon. "You see what an illumination we have! San Miniato
has provided us with something better than a lamp."
"San Miniato, my dear child, is a man of the highest genius. I always
said so. But if you begin to talk of eating without a lamp, you may as
well talk of abolishing civilisation."
"I wish we could!" exclaimed Beatrice.
"And so do I, with all my heart," said San Miniato.
"Including baccarat and quinze?" enquired the Marchesa, lazily picking
out the most delicate morsels from the cold fish on her plate.
"Including baccarat, quinze, the world, the flesh and the devil," said
San Miniato.
"Pray remember, dearest friend, that Beatrice is at the table," observed
the Marchesa, with indolent reproach in her voice.
"I do," replied San Miniato. "It is precisely for her sake that I would
like to do away with the things I have named.
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