Volume III Part 8 (1/2)
An Austrian count, who had a loud and silly laugh, said:
”Who has saddled you with that yarn? The lady is Lady Nitingsdale, and his name is Romanesco”
”Romanesco?”
”Yes, he is a rich Boyar from Moldavia, where he has extensive estates”
Romanesco kept a faro bank in his apartments, and he certainly cheated, for he nearly alon; it was not long, therefore, before other people in good society at Lucca shared Madaht it advisable to vanish as suddenly fro any more traces behind him
Some tioland, for the sea-bathing; and one day she saw Escovedo-Ro opposite to her at the _table d'hote_, in very animated conversation with a Russian lady; only his hair had turned black since she had seen hi for him
”The sea water seems to have a very remarkable effect upon your hair,”
Wanda said to him spitefully, in a whisper
”Do you think so?” he replied, condescendingly
”I fancy that at one ti me for somebody else,” the Brazilian replied, quietly
”I am not”
”For whom do you take me, pray?” he said with an insolent smile
”For Don Escovedo”
”I am Count Dembizki from Valkynia,” the former Brazilian said with a bow; ”perhaps you would like to see my passport”
”Well, perhaps”
And at last, he had the impudence to show her his false passport
A year afterwards, Wanda met Count Dembizki in Baden, near Vienna His hair was still black, but he had a nificent, full, black beard; he had become a Greek prince, and his name was Anastasio Maurokordatos She met him once in one of the side walks in the park, where he could not avoid her ”If it goes on like this,” she called out to hi voice, ”the next tiro tribe or other”
That time, however, the Brazilian did not deny his identity; on the contrary, he surrendered at discretion, and ieful, she pardoned hi his terror for a ti as he did nothing contrary to the laws
”First of all, I amble”
”You have only to command; and we do not know each other in future?”