"
"Poppa is very much interested in antiquities, but I'm afraid there will
hardly be time, Count Filgiatti."
"Listen, I will say all! Always they have been much too large, the
families Filgiatti. So now perhaps we are a little _re_duce. But there
is still somethings-ah--signorina, can you pardon that I speak these
things, but the time is so small--there is fifteen hundred lire yearly
revenue to my pocket."
"About three hundred dollars," I observed sympathetically. Count
Filgiatti nodded with the smile of a conscious capitalist. "Then of
course," I said, "you won't marry for money." I'm afraid this was a
little unkind, but I was quite sure the Count would perceive no irony,
and said it for my own amusement.
"_Jamais!_ In Italy you will find that never! The Italian gives always
the heart before--before----"
"The arrangimento," I suggested softly.
"Indeed, yes. There is also the seat of the family."
"The seat of the family," I repeated. "Oh--the family seat. Of course,
being a Count, you have a castle. They always go together. I had
forgotten."
"A castle I cannot say, but for the country it is very well.
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