He evidently liked praise.
"It is not extraordinary," he said smiling.

"In the course of a very long life it has been my only solace, and if I have some skill it is the result of constant study.

I began life very humbly." "So did I," said Nino, thoughtfully, "and I am not far from the humbleness yet." "Tell me," said Benoni, with a show of interest, "where you come from, and why you are a singer." "I was a peasant's child, an orphan, and the good God gave me a voice.
That is all I know about it.

A kind-hearted gentleman, who once owned the estate where I was born, brought me up, and wanted to make a philosopher of me.

But I wanted to sing, and so I did." "Do you always do the things you want to do ?" asked the other, "You look as though you might.