They work as though they had never seen the plant growing.

When the Greeks began to carve Corinthian capitals, they must have worked from real leaves, as I taught you to model when you were a boy.

Few things are harder than a good acanthus leaf." "I should think women could do the delicate part of our work very well," said the apprentice, returning to the subject from which Marzio was evidently trying to lead him.

"Lucia has such very clever fingers." "Idiot!" muttered Marzio between his teeth, not deigning to make any further answer.
The distant boom of a gun broke upon the silence that followed, and immediately the bells of all the neighbouring churches rang out in quick succession.

It was midday.
"I did not expect to finish that nose," said Marzio, rising from his stool.