"
"Yes, yes--now I understand. The goddess Minerva is a clever
woman, and she will hold out her hand and take his fortune from
him with the utmost docility."
"The first thing is to get him to offer it. I must tell you that
I am not going to sit to him, but to his master, Luca Lomi, who
is doing the statue of Minerva. The face is modeled from his
daughter; and now he wants somebody to sit for the bust and arms.
Maddalena Lomi and I are as nearly as possible the same height, I
hear--the difference between us being that I have a good figure
and she has a bad one. I have offered to sit, through a friend
who is employed in the studio. If the master accepts, I am sure
of an introduction to our rich young gentleman; and then leave it
to my good looks, my various accomplishments, and my ready
tongue, to do the rest."
"Stop! I won't have the lace doubled, on second thoughts. I'll
have it single, and running all round the dress in curves--so.
Well, and who is this friend of yours employed in the studio? A
fourth sculptor?"
"No, no; the strangest, simplest little creature--"
Just then a faint tap was audible at the door of the room.
Brigida laid her finger on her lips, and called impatiently to
the person outside to come in.
The door opened gently, and a young girl, poorly but very neatly
dressed, entered the room. She was rather thin and under the
average height; but her head and figure were in perfect
proportion.
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