But they were noways distinguished from a thousand other Milanese whom Maltravers had met with in the walks and cafes of their noble city.

The host was somewhat more interesting.

He was a tall, handsome man, of about eight-and-forty, with a high forehead, and features strongly impressed with the sober character of thought.

He had but little of the French vivacity in his manner; and without looking at his countenance, you would still have felt insensibly that he was the eldest of the party.

His wife was at least twenty years younger than himself, mirthful and playful as a child, but with a certain feminine and fascinating softness in her unrestrained gestures and sparkling gaiety, which seemed to subdue her natural joyousness into the form and method of conventional elegance.