It was owing to this innate weakness that such a combination of artistic sensitiveness and spasmodic arrogance was possible.

The man's excitable imagination apprehended opposition where there was none, and his timidity made him fear a struggle, and hate himself for fearing it.

As soon as he was alone, however, his thoughts generally returned to his art, and found expression in the delicate execution of the most exquisite fancies.
Under other circumstances his character might have developed in a widely different way; his talent would still have been the same.

There is a sort of nervous irritability which acts as a stimulant upon the faculties, and makes them work faster.

With Marzio this unnatural state was chronic, and had become so because he had given himself up to it.