it that I surprise you now in the company of Ruhu-Sahib, the elephant-driver?
Rinaldi. But surely you do not suppose?… A Hindu, a savage?… I was merely gathering points about his elephants. He is a remarkable man. The life of these circus people is vastly more entertaining than ours. I wonder what you would think if I should decide to join the circus? What would people say?
Leonardo. Probably that you were settling down. In the light of your experience, it might not appear surprising.
Rinaldi. This conventional life is a horrible bore. It is unrelieved monotony.
Leonardo. If you were to suppress the most monotonous feature of your life, it would be a horrible bore.
Rinaldi. Come, invite me to take something. I'll have an ice, a tutti-frutti. They are delicious.
Leonardo. With pleasure… Ah! Imperia. Do you see?
Rinaldi. Yes, and I have seen her here before.
Leonardo. How extraordinary! And alone. In that gown!
Rinaldi. She is always gowned imperially. She is an artist, although not in my line.
Leonardo. I do not understand
Rinaldi. Why be so innocent? You know your model better than I do. By the way, what was she like when she was with you? I have heard so many stories.
Leonardo. I met her in Rome. She was one of the models who hang about the Piazza di Spagna. Donina was her name at the time. She was a spare, pinched figure, clad in rags, with a suggestion about her that was indescribably sordid and poor. This terrible poverty of the great cities is not only want of bread, it is hunger for everything which
