I will make of him a sponge; he shall be squeezed dry, and sopped again and squeezed again.

I will be his confessor." "If you find out what I want, I will give you--" Del Ferice hesitated; he did not mean to give too much.
"The grey trousers ?" asked Temistocle, with an avaricious light in the eye which did not wander.
"Yes," answered his master, rather regretfully; "I suppose you must have the grey trousers at last." "For those grey trousers I will upset heaven and earth," returned Temistocle in great glee.
Nothing more was said on that day, but early on the following morning the man entered and opened the shutters, and removed the little oil-light that had burned all night.

He kept one eye upon his master, who presently turned slowly and looked inquiringly at him.
"The Duchessa goes to Astrardente in the Sabines on the day after to-morrow," said Temistocle.

"It is quite sure that she goes, because she has already sent out two pairs of horses, and several boxes of effects, besides the second housemaid and the butler and two grooms." "Ah! that is very good.

Temistocle, I think I will get up this morning and sit in the next room." "And the grey trousers ?" "Take them, and wear them in honour of the most generous master living," said Del Ferice, impressively.