It is the immemorial city of convention.

The stagnant Roman air is charged with convention; it colors the yellow light and deepens the chilly shadows.

And in that still recent day the most impressive convention in all history was visible to men's eyes, in the Roman streets, erect in a gilded coach drawn by four black horses.

Roderick's first fortnight was a high aesthetic revel.
He declared that Rome made him feel and understand more things than he could express: he was sure that life must have there, for all one's senses, an incomparable fineness; that more interesting things must happen to one than anywhere else.

And he gave Rowland to understand that he meant to live freely and largely, and be as interested as occasion demanded.