He himself knew them well.

Dane, with all his colds and his nerves and his sixty-two years, possessed, besides great learning, an indomitable vigour of mind and a steadfast moral courage.
Andrea Minucci, in spite of his disordered fair hair, his spectacles, and a certain awkwardness in his movements, which gave him the appearance of a learned German, was a youthful and most ardent soul, tried in the fire of life, not sparkling on the surface like the soul of the Lombard, but enveloped in its own flame, severe, and, probably, stronger.
Giovanni began speaking in a frank, open way.

He thanked those present for coming, and excused the absent ones, the monk and the priest, at the same time expressing regret for their absence.

He said that in any case their adherence was insured, and he insisted upon the importance of their adherence.

He added, speaking louder and more slowly, and fixing his eyes on the Abbe Marinier, that for the time being he deemed it prudent not to divulge anything regarding either the meeting, or any measures which might be adopted; and he begged all to consider themselves bound in honour to silence.