Lavinia Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ...If Signor Paolo was not to be of the party, no more would I--and of course I carried the day. And what were the thanks I received for all my efforts and good-will, from the hands of this precious Domenichino? a cold, distant manner, either no answer at all, or a snappish one. However, he was no worse than the rest of the gentlemen, Count Fortiguerra excepted. I never saw such tiresome specimens of the stronger sex in my life. Mr. Jones was in one of his worst moods--boisterous, bombastic, boastful, and ended by--you can guess what? So did Captain Paddock. Do you know anything of the Paddocks of Paddock in Yorkshire? A good family, the Pipers say, but very poor; the captain is poor in spirit also. I am not sure that my favourite count himself was not a little too exhilarated, but he managed very well, and was not stupid like the other two. Though he has a little of the bon vivamt about him, he is always the nobleman; besides, he is full of information of all kinds, animated with such ready wit, and not without a touch of real fun, always kept within bounds, though, by good taste. There is, in all that he says and does, that mixture of ease and dignity, in short that mysterious something, that you only find among the highborn. After all, he is not perfect; he is rather noisy, and talks too loud for my taste; but that s one of my prejudices. I hate'loud speaking, and Italian habits and ways differ from ours. At all events I prefer his trumpet to the chevalier s cooing whisper. That infinitesimal dose of a man was my neighbour, you must know. He always speaks to one as if he was making love. I hope Signor Mancini did not imagine that anything of that sort was going on between the chevalier and me. More than...