The person who wished to speak with Signor Maironi was a far more important functionary than the chief of police.
"Perhaps I should not have told you that," he added, "but at any rate he himself will tell you so." Then he informed Benedetto that he had sought for him in vain at Villa Mayda, and said how vexed he would have been not to have found him soon.
Benedetto ventured to inquire if he knew the reason of this call.

In reality the delegate did not know, but he feigned a diplomatic silence, and drew back into his corner as if to avoid the gusts of rain.

A street lamp showed Benedetto the yellow river, the great black barges of Ripagrande; another showed him the temple of Vesta.

Beyond that he could no longer see where they were going; it seemed as if they were passing through an unknown necropolis, a maze of funereal streets, where sepulchral lamps were burning.

At last the carriage rattled into a courtyard, and drew up at the foot of a broad and dark stairway, flanked with columns.