Don Paolo was scrupulous of his appearance, and his cassock and mantle were carefully brushed, and his white collar was immaculately clean.

His hands were of the student type--white, square at the tips, lean, and somewhat knotty.
Marzio, in his ill-humour, had no doubt flattered himself that his family would wait for him for supper.

But his family had studied him and knew his ways.

When he was not punctual, he seldom came at all, and a quarter of an hour was considered sufficient to decide the matter.
"What are we waiting to do ?" exclaimed Maria Luisa, in the odd Italian idiom.

"Marzio is in his humours--he must have gone to his friends.