If you get mixed up in an intrigue now, you may ruin yourself.

I hope you will." "Grazie! And then ?" "Eh, it might not be such a bad thing after all.

For if you could be induced to give up the stage--" "I--_I_ give up singing ?" he cried, indignantly.
"Oh, such things happen, you know.

If you were to give it up, as I was saying, you might then possibly use your mind.

A mind is a much better thing than a throat, after all." "Ebbene! talk as much as you please, for, of course, you have the right, for you have brought me up, and you have certainly opposed my singing enough to quiet your conscience.