Mortadello

OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 25 GIUSEPPE. Why then, where’s he been ? MARCO. Ha ! Ha ! you’d never guess. EUPHEMIA. Then tell us what you mean ! MARGARITA. You great big teasing Mark ! It was Olimpia’s father. Whose knotted cherry-club teased you last Easter rather. MARCO. Don’t. Bygones should be bygones ! Though if I catch him walking One night by the canal, I may set people talking ! MATTEO. Well, what’s the news ? GIUSEPPE. The Doge is drunk ? FILIPPO. Or is the Pope ill ? MATTEO. He has just heard the Turks have sacked Con- stantinople. MARCO. No, but an idol breaks, a temple is defiled : Your Princess Monica is found to be with child. GIUSEPPE. Hum ! MATTEO. It’s a dirty lie. FILIPPO. A dirty lie ! EUPHEMIA. You hog ! MARGARITA. You filthy beast. GIUSEPPE. It’s false, I make no doubt, the dog ! I suppose you are the father. MARCO. O ! no one knows who he is, But she. FILIPPO. You say’t again ! NINA. A saint as sweet as she is ! Let’s tear the lying tongue from him ! GIUSEPPE. To the canal ! And cool his brains ; he’s mad, perhaps, the animal. [They drag him off, struggling, towards R.