The master turned to the lovers again. Zorzi had
withdrawn a step or two, but showed no signs of going further.
"If you are going to tell me that I must change my mind," said Marietta,
"and that it is a shame to love a penniless glass-blower--"
"Silence!" cried the old man, stroking his beard fiercely. "How can you
presume to guess what I may or may not say about your shameless conduct?
Did I not see him kissing you?"
"I daresay, for he did," answered Marietta, raising her eyebrows and
looking down in a resigned way. "And it is not the first time, either,"
she added, shaking her head and almost laughing.
"The insolence!" cried Beroviero. "The atrocious boldness!"
"Sir," said Zorzi, coming nearer, "there is only one remedy for it. Give
me your daughter for my wife--"
"Upon my faith, this is too much! You know that Marietta is betrothed to
Messer Jacopo Contarini--"
"I have told you that I will not marry him," said Marietta quietly, "so
it is just as if I had never been betrothed to him."
"That is no reason for marrying Zorzi," retorted Beroviero. "A pretty
match for you! Angelo Beroviero's daughter and a penniless foreigner who
cannot even be allowed to work openly at his art!"
"If I go away," Zorzi answered quietly, "I may soon be as rich as you,
sir.
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