He gave large sums away in charity, did he not?
and was he not a lover of books and simple pleasures ?" "Oh, I grant you all that!" returned Ferrari, with some impatience.

"He was the most moral man in immoral Naples, if you care for that sort of thing.

Studious--philosophic--parfait gentilhomme--proud as the devil, virtuous, unsuspecting, and--withal--a fool!" My temper rose dangerously--but I controlled it, and remembering my part in the drama I had constructed, I broke into violent, harsh laughter.
"Bravo!" I exclaimed.

"One can easily see what a first-rate young fellow YOU are! You have no liking for moral men--ha, ha! excellent! I agree with you.

A virtuous man and a fool are synonyms nowadays.