Alpha Book

Look at my nose."
"Yes. I am looking at it."
"And my mouth."
"I look. I see. I admire. Have you any other personal observations to
make? How many claws has a tiger, Don Orsino? Quick! I am painting the
thing."
"One less than a woman."
Madame d'Aragona looked at the young man a moment, and broke into a
laugh.
"There is a charming speech. I like that better than Gouache's
flattery."
"And yet you admit that the portrait is like you," said Gouache.
"Perhaps I flatter you, too."
"Ah! I had not thought of that."
"You should be more modest."
"I lose myself--"
"Where?"
"In your eyes, Madame. One, two, three, four--are you sure a tiger has
only four claws? Where is the creature's thumb--what do you call it? It
looks awkward."
"The dew-claw?" asked Orsino. "It is higher up, behind the paw. You
would hardly see it in the skin."
"But a cat has five claws," said Madame d'Aragona. "Is not a tiger a
cat? We must have the thing right, you know, if it is to be done at
all.


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