"But if it comes to that, it would be much better for him to marry me than that good-looking peasant girl he has picked up." The Contessa sat up straight and stared at her in astonishment.

There was a coolness in the speech that positively horrified her.
"My dear child!" she cried.

"What in the world are you talking about ?" "Regina," answered Aurora, looking up, and throwing the hat upon the table.

"I am talking about Marcello's Regina.

Did you suppose I had never heard of her, and that I did not guess that it was she, the other night?
I had a good look at her.