Any man, woman, or child in Ravenna would have said, if such an
unpleasant idea had crossed their minds, that what Ravenna would do
without him it was frightful to think. He was very popular, as well
as profoundly respected by all classes of his fellow-citizens.
Though certainly a very proud man, his pride was of a nature that
gave offence to nobody. He was not only proud of being Marchese di
Castelmare; he was very proud of the esteem, the affection and
respect of his fellow-citizens. And perhaps this was, next to his
love of music, what most resembled a passion in his nature, and what
most ministered to his enjoyment of life.
It was to this phoenix of a Marchese that Signor Ercole Stadione,
the impresario, having comforted himself with the Conte Leandro's
punch, and got somewhat thawed, and having changed his mountain of
travelling wraps for a costume proper for presenting himself in such
a presence, repaired to report the result of his journey to Milan.
CHAPTER III
The Impresario's Report
It has been said that Signor Ercole Stadione, when he was first
introduced to the reader under circumstances somewhat unfavourable
to that dignity of appearance and deportment on which he specially
prided himself, presented the appearance of a round mass some five
feet in diameter. And it may be thence concluded, that when reduced
to the proportions familiar to the citizens of Ravenna, his utmost
longitudinal dimensions did not exceed that measure.
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