Well, Calabressa had indeed come here to talk about Lind's daughter; but
it was impossible, amidst this wild surging to and fro of Olympian
laughter. At last, however, the showman came to an end of his cartoons,
and solemnly made his bow, and amidst tumultuous cheering resumed his
place among his companions.
There was a pause, given over to chatter and joking, and Calabressa
quickly embraced this opportunity.
"You are a friend of the little Natalushka--of the beautiful Natalie, I
should say, perhaps?"
"Lind's daughter does not choose to have many friends," said Beratinsky,
curtly.
This was not promising; and, indeed, the corpulent little Pole showed
great disinclination to talk about the young lady who had so laid hold
of Calabressa's heart. But Calabressa was not to be denied, when it was
the welfare of the daughter of Natalie Berezolyi that was concerned.
"Yes, yes, friend Beratinsky, of course she is very much alone. It is
rather a sad thing for a young girl to be so much alone."
"And if she chooses to be alone?" said Beratinsky, with a sharpness that
resembled the snarl of a terrier.
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