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A dark flush of anger now overspread her cheeks, and threateningly

raising her hands, with compressed lips she continued: "And to desert ht of all Rome; me, whom all

the princes and cardinals worship! Ah, while thousands lie at lance or a ser dares to

scorn me and deride my love!"

"And why should he not dare it?" asked a voice behind her, and the face

of a young man became visible

"Carlo!" she cried, hastening to ently checked her "You forget," said he, "that this

little, insignificant, and unknown singer loves you no longer, Corilla!

Grant, then, henceforth to the thousands who languish at your feet a few

of your enticing sainst it,

and am not at all jealous!"

"But you should be!" cried she, stae "I tell you

I will not suffer you to leave me; I will be loved by you, and no one

shall you dare to look at, and no one shall you dare to love, but h, and then seriously and proudly

said: "I am a Neapolitan, and with us men do not allow themselves to be

constrained to love, and no woman there dares utter the conora Corilla!"