Imagine! At twenty he had never been in love! It is incredible to me,--and one of our own people, too, born at Serveti.
Meanwhile the maestro's cigar had gone out, and he lit it with a blazing sulphur match before he continued; and we all walked on again.
I remember it all very distinctly, because it was the beginning of Nino's madness.

Especially I call to mind his expression of indifference when Ercole began to descant upon the worldly possessions of the Lira household.

It seemed to me that if Nino so seriously cast his eyes on the Contessina Edvigia, he might at least have looked pleased to hear she was so rich; or he might have looked disappointed, if he thought that her position was an obstacle in his way.

But he did not care about it at all, and walked straight on, humming a little tune through his nose with his mouth shut, for he does everything to a tune.
"They are certainly gran' signor," Ercole said.

"They live on the first floor of the Palazzo Carmandola,--you know, in the Corso--and they have a carriage, and keep two men in livery, just like a Roman prince.