Veronica did not understand how with such tastes he could bear the life in the Palazzo Macomer, for months at a time.

He was free to go and come as he pleased, and since he preferred the country, she wondered why he did not live out of town altogether.

His existence was the more incomprehensible to her, as he rarely lost an opportunity of finding fault with Naples as a city and with the Neapolitans as human beings.

Sometimes he did not leave the house for many days, as he frankly admitted, preferring the little apartment in the upper story of the house, where he lived independently, with one old servant, amongst his books and his pictures, appearing downstairs only at dinner, and not always then.

His place was always ready for him, but no one ever remarked his absence, nor inquired where he might be when he chose to stay away.
He was on excellent terms with every one.