You tell me that you men of the world already regard a disaster as imminent--to expect defeat is nine-tenths of a defeat itself.

Ah, if we could count upon such men as you to the very death, our case would be far from desperate." "For the matter of that, your Eminence can count upon us well enough," replied Giovanni, quietly.
"Upon you, Giovanni--yes, for you are a brave gentleman.

But upon your friends, even upon your class--no.

Can I count upon the Valdarno, even?
You know as well as I that they are in sympathy with the Liberals--that they have neither the courage to support us nor the audacity to renounce us; and, what is worse, they represent a large class, of whom, I regret to say, Donna Tullia Mayer is one of the most prominent members.

With her wealth, her youth, her effervescent spirits, and her early widowhood, she leads men after her; they talk, they chatter, they set up an opinion and gloat over it, while they lack the spirit to support it.