What harm was there in that?
A bereaved man needed diversion.

The change had come suddenly, when he had decided to return to Rome, and he had eaten nothing for thirty-six hours.

The valet asked if the youth at the hospital, of whom Corbario had told him, were really Marcello.

The footman answered that none of the servants thought so, after they had all been taken to see him.
Having exchanged these confidences in the half-dumb language which servants command, they reached the gate.

The footman rushed out to call the carriage, the valet delivered the tickets and followed the footman more slowly, carrying Corbario's bag and coat, and Corbario lighted a cigar and followed his man at a leisurely pace, absorbed in thought.
Until the moment of passing the gate he had meant to drive directly to the hospital, which is at some distance from the station in a direction almost opposite to that of the Janiculum.