Many a stately guest rode out to visit us.

We kept open house, and where there is a good table and a beautiful young lady like our signorina, the gallants are not far off.

Among them was a very aristocratic gentleman of middle age, the Marquis d'Avennes, whom her excellenza had expressly invited.

We had never received any prince with so much attention; but this was a matter of course, for his mother was a relative of her excellenza.

You must know that my mistress; on her mother's side, is descended from a family in Normandy.