Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 3.djvu/150

 nobleman paid him the same compliment, as was proved by his asking of Madame Grandoni, in a rapid aside, in Italian, 'Isn't it the bookbinder?'

'Sicuro,' said the old lady; while Hyacinth, murmuring a regret that he should find her indisposed, turned back to the door.

'One moment—one moment, I pray!' the Prince interposed, raising his hand persuasively and looking at him with an unexpected, exaggerated smile. 'Please introduce me to the gentleman,' he added, in English, to Madame Grandoni.

She manifested no surprise at the request—she had none left, apparently, for anything—but pronounced the name of Prince Casamassima, and then added, for Hyacinth's benefit, 'He knows who you are.'

'Will you permit me to keep you a very little minute?' the Prince continued, addressing the other visitor; after which he remarked to Madame Grandoni, 'I will speak with him a little. It is perhaps not necessary that we should incommode you, if you do not wish to stay.'

She had for a moment, as she tossed off a satirical little laugh, a return of her ancient drollery. 'Remember that if you talk long she may come back! Yes, yes, I will go upstairs. Felicissima notte, signori!' She took her way to the door, which Hyacinth, considerably bewildered, held open for her.

The reasons for which Prince Casamassima wished to converse with him were mysterious; nevertheless, he was about to close the door behind Madame Grandoni, as a sign that he was at the service of her companion. At this moment the latter extended again a courteous, remonstrant