And he ended by saying he would make the best of any change that happened to come about, like a thoroughgoing egotist, as he is!" "I would like to hear what you think of Don Giovanni Saracinesca," said Gouache; "and then I would like to hear what he thinks of you." "I can tell you both," answered Del Fence.

"I think of him that he is a thorough aristocrat, full of prejudices and money, unwilling to sacrifice his convictions to his wealth or his wealth to his convictions, intelligent in regard to his own interests and blind to those of others, imbued with a thousand and one curious feudal notions, and overcome with a sense of his own importance." "And what does he think of you ?" asked Anastase, working busily.
"Oh, it is very simple," returned Del Ferice, with a laugh.

"He thinks I am a great scoundrel." "Really! How strange! I should not have said that." "What?
That Del Fence is a scoundrel ?" asked Donna Tullia, laughing.
"No; I should not have said it," repeated Anastase, thoughtfully.

"I should say that our friend Del Ferice is a man of the most profound philanthropic convictions, nobly devoting his life to the pursuit of liberty, fraternity, and equality." "Do you really think so ?" asked Donna Tullia, with a half-comic glance at Ugo, who looked uncommonly grave.
"Madame," returned Gouache, "I never permit myself to think otherwise of any of my friends." "Upon my word," remarked Del Fence, "I am delighted at the compliment, my dear fellow; but I must infer that your judgment of your friends is singularly limited." "Perhaps," answered Gouache.

"But the number of my friends is not large, and I myself am very enthusiastic.