My dear Count, why is it not illustrious?
The pale, liquid gold, in every such flask as that, might be solidified into golden scudi, and would quickly make you a millionaire!" Tomaso, the old butler, who was standing by the table, and enjoying the praises of the wine quite as much as if bestowed upon himself, made answer,--"We have a tradition, Signore," said he, "that this rare wine of our vineyard would lose all its wonderful qualities, if any of it were sent to market.

The Counts of Monte Beni have never parted with a single flask of it for gold.

At their banquets, in the olden time, they have entertained princes, cardinals, and once an emperor and once a pope, with this delicious wine, and always, even to this day, it has been their custom to let it flow freely, when those whom they love and honor sit at the board.

But the grand duke himself could not drink that wine, except it were under this very roof!" "What you tell me, my good friend," replied Kenyon, "makes me venerate the Sunshine of Monte Beni even more abundantly than before.

As I understand you, it is a sort of consecrated juice, and symbolizes the holy virtues of hospitality and social kindness ?" "Why, partly so, Signore," said the old butler, with a shrewd twinkle in his eye; "but, to speak out all the truth, there is another excellent reason why neither a cask nor a flask of our precious vintage should ever be sent to market.