Now, she can't very well go to the palace, for the first time,
alone, you know! If you had not expressed the opinions you have on
the subject, I should have gone with her, thinking no harm. But
perhaps--to the palace, you know;--it would be better, if you would
not mind it, to accompany her, for the first time, yourself."
"Very right, very properly thought of, my dear boy! Yes; I can go
with her--or I can send Burini, which will come to the same thing."
"No, uncle; not the same thing--to send a mere maestro di casa,--a
servant! It would not be nice for the poor girl; it would make all
the difference with the servants and people at the palace: if I
avoid going with her to please you, you will go with her yourself,
won't you?"
"Very well, very well; I'll go with her. If any man has more to do
of his own than all the rest of the city put together, there are
sure to be other folk's at fairs thrust on him also; it has been so
with me all my life. Well, I will find half an hour somehow."
"Thanks, uncle! Good-by, I wish you well through your meeting."
"We shall see each other at dinner?"
"Yes. A rivederla!"
CHAPTER X
The Contessa Violante
The Contessa Violante Marliani lived, as has been said, with her
great-aunt, a sister of the Cardinal. They occupied a small house
nearly contiguous to the palace, which was almost more their home
than their own dwelling.
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