And thus equipped, everything is ready, Quinto mio; we turn our
backs on haughty Milan, and nova regna petentes cras ingens
iterabimus aequor, that is to say, the wide plains of Lombardy.
So Bianca and her faithful Quinto journeyed forth on that
interminably long flat monotonous Emilian road, with no accompanying
sound of music on their departure, but with the much-improved
prospects, which have been described, on their arrival.
CHAPTER II
An Adopted Father and an Adopted Daughter
When Bianca, on the evening of her arrival at Ravenna, rejoined
Quinto Lalli at the handsome and convenient lodging which had been
provided her, after having passed an hour or two, as has been
related, in being presented to the notabilities of the city, and
receiving a great deal of homage at the Palazzo Castelmare, she had
already learned many useful things.
Imprimis, she had learned that the Marchese Lamberto was a bachelor;
that he was--though what young girls call an old man--still almost
in the prime of life, for a man so healthy and well preserved; that
he was a remarkably handsome and dignified gentleman; that he
evidently occupied the very foremost place in the esteem and respect
of his fellow-citizens; that he was rich; and that he appeared from
all those little signs and tokens of manner, which such a woman as
La Diva Bianca can interpret so readily, the last man in the world
likely to fall in love with such a travelling Diva as herself.
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