And perhaps this was, next to his love of music, what most resembled a passion in his nature, and what most ministered to his enjoyment of life.
It was to this phoenix of a Marchese that Signor Ercole Stadione, the impresario, having comforted himself with the Conte Leandro's punch, and got somewhat thawed, and having changed his mountain of travelling wraps for a costume proper for presenting himself in such a presence, repaired to report the result of his journey to Milan..