She had been married very young to a parliamentary high-light, who had made much noise in his day, had spent more than half of her fortune after getting rid of his own, and had been forgotten on the morrow of his premature death.

It was said that she had loved another man with all her heart, but Corbario had never known who it was.
The sun was almost setting when they turned homeward, and it was dark when they reached the cottage.

They found an unexpected arrival installed beside the Signora in the doorway of the sitting-room.
"Professor Kalmon is here," said the Signora's voice out of the gloom.
"I have asked him to stay till to-morrow." The Professor rose up in the shadow and came forward, just as a servant brought a lamp.

He was celebrated as a traveller, and occupied the chair of comparative physiology in the University of Milan.

He belonged to the modern type of scientific man, which has replaced the one of fifty years ago, who lived in a dressing-gown and slippers, smoked a long pipe, and was always losing his belongings through absence of mind.