He held his three-cornered hat in one hand, and was stretching out the other to warm it at the low flame.

Veronica was a little startled by his face and extraordinary features, but he looked at her clearly and steadily through his big silver spectacles, and he had a venerable air which she liked.

She noticed that when she advanced towards him, he bowed like a man of the world, and not at all like a country priest.
"I thank you for receiving me, princess," he said, gravely.

"I have heard the sad news.

I was Bosio's friend for many years.