"I cannot go for it now.

His Excellency is waiting.

Please step this way." To Benedetto's' great astonishment, he invited him to enter the lift.
"Both their Excellencies," said the usher, correcting himself, and, as the lift ascended to the second floor, he looked at Benedetto as at one about to receive a great honour which he does not appear to deserve.
When they reached the second floor, the two traversed an immense hall dimly lighted.

From this hall Benedetto was shown into an apartment so brilliantly illumined as to cause him discomfort and suffering, and he was nearly blinded.
Two men, seated in the two corners of a large sofa, were waiting for him, each in a different attitude, the younger with his hands in his pockets, his legs crossed, and his head leaning against the back of the couch; the elder with his body bent forward, and continuously stroking his grey beard, first with one hand and then with the other.

The first individual had a sarcastic expression, the second a searching, melancholy, kindly one.