Page:The Pentamerone, or The Story of Stories.djvu/249

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CORVETTO.
223

There were courtiers in plenty around the Prince who would have betrayed their anger at seeing him touched to the quick by this story, had they not possessed the art of dissembling; nor could they say which was greatest, their vexation at hearing themselves upbraided for their roguery, or their envy at Corvetto's happiness. But Paola now began to speak, and drew their soul out of the well of their own feelings with the book of these words.