Nino had a fancy to wear a moustache and a pointed beard through the first part of the opera; saying that a courtier always had hair on his face, but that he would naturally shave if he turned monk.

I represented to him that it was needless expense, since he must deposit the value of the false beard with the theatre barber, who lives opposite; and it was twenty-three francs.

Besides, he would look like a different man--two separate characters.
"I do not care a cabbage for that," said Nino.

If they cannot recognise me with their ears, they need not trouble themselves to recognise me at all." "It is a fact that their ears are quite long enough," said Mariuccia.
"Hush, Mariuccia!" I said.

"The Roman public is the most intelligent public in the world." And at this she grumbled.
But I knew well enough why he wanted to wear the beard.