I was forced to tell him, in a word, that
our hopes were crowned with success. He faithfully promised to keep
the fact secret. But, doubtless, all the town knows it by this time!
Che vuole?"
"E naturale! e naturale!" returned the Marchese, with a graceful
wave of his hand; "naturally they are all anxious to know the result
of our impresario's labours. And I was not left in ignorance. My
nephew ran in from the Circolo to tell me; he had just heard it from
Signor Leandro. But I thought that I should have a visit from
yourself, Signor Ercole, before long."
"E come, e come, Signor Marchese; could your Excellency imagine that
I could so fail in my duty as to have omitted waiting on your
lordship! Had it not been that I was half killed by this awful
weather, I should have placed myself at your Excellency's orders an
hour ago. Oh, Signor Marchese, such a journey from Bologna hither! I
know what is my duty to the city; I know what is expected of me.
But--Eccellenza, there are benefactors to their country, who have
statues raised to them, that have suffered less in the gaining of
them, than I have this day."
"Povero, Signor Ercole! But who knows? Perhaps we may see the day
when Ravenna will reward your exertions with a monument. Why not? It
must be a statue, life size, nothing less, with `Ercole Stadione, La
Patria riconoscente,' on the base," said the Marchese, with an
irony, the fine flavour of which did not in the least pierce, as it
was not intended to pierce, the plate armour of the little
impresario's vanity.
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