"
"Has he said anything?"
"Not a word; but I don't like the look of him. He never was more
amiable as far as I am concerned; but he is not well; I never saw
him as he is now. He is haggard, feverish, restless; an older man in
appearance by a dozen years than he was at the beginning of
Carnival."
"I suppose he has been raking too much, and wants a little rest.
Lent will be good for him."
"What, he! The Marchese Lamberto raking! You don't know him. But he
seems quite broken down; I should say, that he had got something on
his mind, if it was not impossible. He never had any trouble in his
life; and never did anything he ought not to do, I believe. But I
confess he puzzles me now. Good-night. God bless you, Paolina mia!"
That was on the Friday; and the Diva's last appearance was to take
place on the following Sunday.
CHAPTER II
The Corso
The institution of Carnival and Lent in Italy seems very much as if
it arose from a practical conviction in the minds of the Italians
that they cannot serve two masters,--at least at the same time,--
Mammon in all his forms is to be the acknowledged and exclusive lord
of the hour during the first period, on condition that higher and
holier claims to service shall be as unreservedly recognized when
the second shall have set in.
"Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter,
Sermons and soda water the day after.
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