age is high and brillante and consists largely of descending, staccato 64th notes (m. 215); she laughs at Alfredo's love. She leads him through the rest of the duet and out the door. Her life as a courtesan, although empty, provides her with constant distractions from her sickness. She does not easily give up such security.
             The true effect of Alfredo's words is not apparent to the audience until Violetta is left alone to contemplate in the scena and following slower movement of her double aria. Although she expected Alfre
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