He thanked her for her kind inquiries, and then at once spoke of an announcement which he had read in the morning papers, for he suspected that the deputy had sent his wife to ascertain his opinion.
"Well, and that ministry ?" he asked.
The Signora had seated herself and made no haste to reply, but glanced at the newspapers strewn over the table.

"Oh! nothing is settled yet," she at last responded; "the newspapers spoke out too soon.

The Prime Minister sent for Sacco, and they had a talk together.

But Sacco hesitates a good deal; he fears that he has no aptitude for the Department of Agriculture.
Ah! if it were only the Finances--However, in any case, he would not have come to a decision without consulting you.

What do you think of it, uncle ?" He interrupted her with a violent wave of the hand: "No, no, I won't mix myself up in such matters!" To him the rapid success of that adventurer Sacco, that schemer and gambler who had always fished in troubled waters, was an abomination, the beginning of the end.