When I was quite ready she insisted on putting a handful of roasted chestnuts into my pocket, and she said she would pray for me.

The fact is, she thought, foolish old creature, as she is, that I was old and in poor health, and she had often teased me to go into the country for a few days, so that she was not ill pleased that I should seem to take her advice.
She stood looking after me as I trudged along the street, with my bundle and my good stick in my right hand, and a lighted cigar in my left.
I had made up my mind that I ought first to try the direction hinted at by the baron, since I had absolutely no other clue to the whereabouts of the Count von Lira and his daughter.

I therefore got into the old stage that still runs to Palestrina and the neighbouring towns, for it is almost as quick as going by rail, and much cheaper; and half-an-hour later we rumbled out of the Porta San Lorenzo, and I had entered upon the strange journey to find Hedwig von Lira, concerning which frivolous people have laughed so unkindly.

And you may call me a foolish old man if you like.

I did it for my boy..