Once
or twice Monna Giuliana flashed him an unfriendly glance, and this I
accounted natural, deeming that she resented this lack of attention to the
erudite dissertation of her husband.
But as for the others, they were attentive, as I have said, and even Messer
Caro, who at the time--as I gathered then--was engaged upon a translation
of Virgil into Tuscan, and who, therefore, might be accounted something of
an authority, held his peace and listened what time the doctor reasoned and
discoursed.
Fifanti's mean, sycophantic air fell away from him as by magic. Warmed by
his subject and his enthusiasm he seemed suddenly ennobled, and I found him
less antipathic; indeed, I began to see something admirable in the man,
some of that divine quality that only deep culture and learning can impart.
I conceived that now, at last, I held the explanation of how it came to
pass that so distinguished a company frequented his house and gathered on
such familiar terms about his board.
And I began to be less amazed at the circumstance that he should possess
for wife so beautiful and superb a creature as Madonna Giuliana. I thought
that I obtained glimpses of the charm which that elderly man might be able
to exert upon a fine and cultured young nature with aspirations for things
above the commonplace.
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