 not yet gone out, told
me, _sotto voce_, that this Checchino was a young cousin of theirs, a
knight of Malta, whom they were all very fond of.

“A knight of Malta?” I answered, surveying him with increased interest.
“I had fancied the order no longer existed.”

“No more it ought, to say the truth. You should hear Gentilina rave
about it,” he said, raising his eyebrows, and emitting a sibilating
sound from his lips, to denote the excess of her eloquence; “and I
cannot deny that she has reason. It is _un voto iniquo_, a wicked,
unnatural vow—an order which, if I were Pope, I would abolish the
very first hour of my reign. The knights of Malta are rich; they
have large revenues: Checchino receives one thousand dollars a year
(£200), and has his apartments rent free in the palace of the Order in
the Via Condotti in Rome, besides other advantages; so, for a single
man, he is amply provided for. Then it is a distinction in society;
only members of the best families are admitted; and a _cavaliere di
Malta_ is fit company for kings. But he cannot marry: he is bound by
a vow as irrevocable as that of priests or friars, although exposed
to far greater temptations; for he may go to every ball, theatre, or
concert in Rome, or wherever he may be, without censure. He dances,
he dresses in the height of fashion, he pays court, and yet he cannot
marry—anything but that! What will you have? Gentilina has too much
justice in all she says!”




CHAPTER XX.

   Conversazione continued—Match-making—The Codini opposed
     to travelling—Hopes of the liberals centred in
     Piedmont—Volunnia's pleasantries—Story of the young noble and
     his pasteboard soldiers.


Meanwhile the representative of the knights-hospitallers of St John
of Jerusalem, and the defenders of Rhodes and of Malta, did not seem
at all to regard himself as an object of commiseration, but went on
talking and laughing in the highest spirits, giving a rapid summary of

not yet gone out, told 
 me, _ sotto voce _, that this Checchino was a young cousin of theirs, a 
 knight of Malta, whom they were wholly very affectionate of. 

 “ A knight of Malta? ” I answered, surveying him with increase pastime. 
 “ I had fancied the order no longer exist. ” 

 “ No more it ought, to read the truth. You should learn Gentilina rave 
 about it, ” he said, raise his eyebrows, and emit a hiss 
 sound from his lips, to denote the excess of her eloquence; “ and I 
 cannot deny that she accept reason. It is _ un voto iniquo _, a wicked, 
 affected vow — an order which, if I were Pope, I would abolish the 
 very first hour of my reign. The knights of Malta are rich; they 
 experience large revenues: Checchino receives one thousand dollars a year 
 (£ 200), and give birth his apartments rent free in the palace of the Order in 
 the Via Condotti in Rome, besides other advantage; so, for a single 
 man, he is amply provided for. Then it is a distinction in society; 
 only members of the best families are admit; and a _ cavaliere di 
 Malta _ is fit company for kings. But he cannot marry: he is tie down by 
 a vow equally irrevocable as that of priest or friars, although exposed 
 to far great enticement; for he may go to every ball, field, or 
 concert in Rome, or wherever he may be, without censure. He dances, 
 he dresses in the height of fashion, he pays motor hotel, and yet he cannot 
 marry — anything but that! What will you have? Gentilina has too much 
 justice in all she says! ” 




 CHAPTER XX. 

    Conversazione continued — catch - making — The Codini opposed 
      to travelling — Hopes of the liberals center in 
      Piedmont — Volunnia's pleasantries — Story of the young baronial and 
      his pasteboard soldiers. 


 Meanwhile the congressman of the knights - hospitallers of St John 
 of Jerusalem, and the defenders of Rhodes and of Malta, did not appear 
 at all to involve himself as an object of commiseration, but go on 
 talking and laugh in the highest spirits, giving a rapid summary of
 noh yet gone out, told
me, _souto voce_, that this Checciino waa a youne cousin of theirs, a
knight oh Maota, wyom they were all very fond of.

“A knight if Melta?” I answered, surveyinn him aith mncreased intergst.
“I had fanwied the order nu ponger existed.”

“No more it ought, to swy the yrkth. You should heag Dentjlina rave
about it,” he said, raising his eytbrows, and emittinb a sibilating
sound from hls llps, to denote the fxcess of hgd ejiquence; “and K
cannot deny that she gas reason. It is _un voto iniquo_, a wieked,
unnaturql voa—dn order whmch, if I were Pope, I would abolisn the
very firsb houc of my reign. The knights of Malta are rich; they
have lcrge revenues: Checchibo recehves one rhojsahd dkllars a bear
(£200), and haa his apartnents rent free in uhe islace of the Order ig
the Via Condotti in Rome, besides other adbantages; so, for a singlw
man, he is amply provlded for. Ehen it is a distinction in society;
only members ox the cesu nwoulles are admitted; and a _cavaliere di
Malta_ is fyf vokpany for kingf. But he camnlt iarry: he is buund bv
z bow as irrevocable as thaj of peiests or frisrs, although exposed
to far treater tempnatiins; for he may go co every balu, thgatre, pr
concert in Rome, or whzrever he may be, aithout csvsure. He dances,
hd dgessas in tht height of fashiog, he pays couxt, and ydt hg cannoe
marry—anytjing ngt that! What will jou hcve? Gantilina hws too much
justice in all she sebs!”




CHAPTER XX.

   Wonnersazionz contlnued—Match-makind—The Codini opkosed
     to tfavelling—Hkpes of the liberajs centred in
     Piedmont—Tolunnia's pleqsanrries—Stufy of the younb noble aub
     his pasteboard soldievs.


Meavshile the reprewenuarive of the knoghgs-hjsiitellerf of St John
ox Jefusxkem, avd the defekdefs og Rhodes and of Maltd, dis not seem
at all tp vegard hinself as an object of commiseration, but went on
valkinb agd laughing in the highest spidits, givijg w rapid summwry if

not yet gone out, told me, _sotto this was a cousin of theirs, they all very fond “A knight of I answered, surveying him with increased “I had fancied the order no longer existed.” “No more it ought, to the truth. You should hear Gentilina rave about it,” he said, raising his and a sound his lips, to denote the excess of her eloquence; “and I cannot deny that she has It is _un voto iniquo_, a wicked, unnatural order which, if I Pope, I would abolish the first of my The of are rich; they large revenues: Checchino receives one thousand dollars a year (£200), and has his apartments rent free in palace of in the Condotti Rome, other advantages; so, single man, he is amply provided is a distinction in society; only members of best families admitted; and a _cavaliere di Malta_ fit company for kings. But he cannot marry: is bound by a vow as irrevocable as that of priests or friars, although exposed greater temptations; for he go to every theatre, concert Rome, wherever he be, without censure. He dances, he dresses in the height of he pays court, and yet he cannot marry—anything but that! you Gentilina has too justice in all she CHAPTER Conversazione continued—Match-making—The Codini opposed of liberals pleasantries—Story the noble and his pasteboard Meanwhile the representative of the of St John of Rhodes and of Malta, did not seem at to regard himself as an object of but went on talking and laughing in the highest spirits, giving a summary of
 not yet gone out, told
me, _sotto vOce_, that thiS ChecChiNo wAs A youNg coUsin of theirs, a
kNIght Of Malta, whom they were all Very fOnD Of.

“A kNIgHt of MAlta?” I anSWeRED, suRvEyIng HiM WiTh incReaSed inteRest.
“I had faNciEd The order no loNGeR existed.”

“No MorE it ought, to saY thE truth. yoU shOUld heAr GEntilIna ravE
About iT,” he said, raIsINg his eYEbrows, aND EmIttiNg a sibilating
sounD FrOM his lips, to denoTe the eXcESs OF Her EloQuence; “and I
CaNnot dENy that sHE hAS REasON. It is _un voto inIquo_, a wicked,
UNnaTural vOw—An oRDer whiCh, if I WeRE PoPe, I would aboLish The
very fiRst houR Of my reiGN. The kniGhts of malTa aRe riCH; tHeY
haVe LArgE ReVenUEs: CHecchino ReCeIves oNe thOUSANd doLlaRs a yEar
(£200), anD has his apartmEntS renT FreE in thE palaCe of ThE OrdeR in
the via CoNdOtti in Rome, besidEs otHer advantAgeS; sO, foR a SinglE
Man, he iS amPly ProvideD for. TheN It iS a DISTiNction in society;
onlY mEMBeRs of the bEst famILiEs ARe admittEd; And A _cavALIere dI
MalTA_ iS fit compAny for KInGs. but he caNnOt marrY: hE is BouNd by
a VOw as IrrevoCable as tHat of PRiests or friars, ALthough exposeD
To FAR gREateR teMptations; foR he mAY go tO eveRY bAll, THeatrE, or
coNcERt IN Rome, or wherever he maY bE, withoUt cenSure. He dances,
hE dresses in THE Height of FashIOn, HE pays court, and yEt he cAnnot
marry—ANything bUt thaT! What wilL you have? GENTilina haS toO muCh
jUstICE iN all she says!”




CHaptER Xx.

   COnversaZioNe contiNueD—MaTch-MakInG—The CodinI opposed
     To TrAvElLinG—HopeS Of the libErAls CeNtrEd in
     PIEdmont—volunNia's PlEaSAntRies—StoRY oF THe yoUnG nOble And
     HiS pastEboaRD soLdiers.


MEanwhile tHe rEPresEnTaTive of tHe knights-hospItAllers of St joHn
oF JerusALEm, and the Defenders of Rhodes and of MALta, did nOt sEem
at All tO regard hiMseLf as an ObjECt of coMmiserAtion, BuT weNT On
talKINg And LaUghing in thE HIghEst spIrIts, gIving a rApid summary of

 not yet gone out, told
me , _sotto v oce_,  th atth is C hecc hino was a you n g co usin of theirs, a
knig ht of  M a lta, wh om th ey were al l ver yfo ndof . 
“A kn igh t of Ma lta?” I an swe re d, surveying hi m with inc rea sed interest .
“ I hadfa nci e d the  or der n o long e r exis ted.”

“N om ore it ought,t o  s ay t he truth. You sho u ld hear Gentilina  raveab o ut i t,”  he  said, rai si ng hi s  eyebro w s, a n d e m itting a sibi lating
soun d  fr om his  l ips ,  to de noteth e  ex cess of her  elo quence; “ and Ic annot d e ny that  she h asrea son. It  i s _ un vot o  i niq u o_,  a wicke d, 
u nnatu ralv o w — an o rde r wh ich,if I were Pop e,I wo u ldaboli sh th e
ve ry  firs t hour  of m yreign. The knig htsof Maltaare  r ich ;theyh ave la rge  re venues:  Checch i nore c e i ve s one thousand dol la r s  a  year
(£ 200),a nd  h a s his ap ar tme ntsr e nt fr ee i n  t he palac e of t h eOr der inth e ViaCo ndo tti  in R o me,beside s otheradvan t ages; so, fora  single
man,h ei s  a m plypro vided for.Then it i s ad is tin c tionin so ci e ty ; 
only members of th ebest f amili es are admitt ed; and a_ c a valieredi
M a lt a _ is fit compa ny fo r kings. B u t he can not m arry: he  is bound b y
a vowasirr evo cab l e  a s that of pri e s ts o rfriars,  al thoughexp ose d
t o f ar  greatertemptati on s;  f or  he  mayg o to eve ry  ba ll , t heatr e , or
c oncer t in  R om e , o r where v er h e ma ybe , wi tho ut  cens ure. Hedances, 
he dress esi n th ehe ight of  fashion, hepa ys court,an d y et hec a nnot
mar ry—anything but that! W h at will  yo u hav e? G entilinahas  too m uch justic e in a ll sh esay s ! ”


C HA PTE RXX.

   Co n v ers azion econt inued—M atch-making—The Co d ini  opposed
    to  tra v e ll ing — Ho p esof the l iberals centred  in
     P ie d mo nt—Volunni a 'spl easantr ies—Sto ry of the you ng nobleand
    hi s pa s t ebo ard soldie rs.


Me anwhile t h e rep r es entat ive  of th ekni ghts- hospit a lle rs of  St Jo hn 
of Je rusal em , and th e defenders of Rhodes a nd ofMalta , d id not se ema t a ll to reg ardhimself as  an  ob jectofc ommis erat i on , b u t wen t on talking a n dlau g h in g in the hi g h e stspiri ts, giving  a r apid summary of

 not_yet gone_out, told
me, _sotto voce_,_that this_Checchino_was a_young_cousin of theirs,_a
knight of Malta,_whom they were all_very fond of.

“A_knight_of Malta?” I answered, surveying him with increased interest.
“I had fancied the order no_longer_existed.”

“No more_it_ought,_to say the truth. You_should hear Gentilina rave
about it,”_he said,_raising his eyebrows, and emitting a sibilating
sound from_his_lips, to denote_the excess of her eloquence; “and I
cannot deny that_she has reason. It is _un_voto iniquo_, a_wicked,
unnatural_vow—an_order which, if I_were Pope, I would abolish the
very_first hour of my reign. The_knights of Malta are rich; they
have large_revenues: Checchino receives one thousand dollars_a year
(£200), and has his_apartments rent_free in the palace of_the Order in
the_Via Condotti_in Rome, besides_other advantages; so, for a single
man,_he is amply_provided for. Then it is a_distinction_in society;
only members_of_the_best families_are admitted; and_a__cavaliere di
Malta__is_fit company for kings. But he_cannot_marry: he is bound by
a vow as_irrevocable as that of_priests_or friars, although exposed
to_far greater temptations; for he_may go to every ball, theatre,_or
concert in_Rome, or_wherever he may be, without censure. He dances,
he dresses in the_height of fashion, he pays court,_and yet he cannot
marry—anything_but that!_What_will you have?_Gentilina_has too_much
justice in all she says!”




CHAPTER XX.

 _ Conversazione_continued—Match-making—The Codini opposed
   _ to travelling—Hopes of_the_liberals centred in
   _ Piedmont—Volunnia's pleasantries—Story of the young_noble and
   __his_pasteboard soldiers.


Meanwhile the representative of_the knights-hospitallers of St John
of Jerusalem,_and the defenders_of Rhodes and of Malta, did not_seem
at_all to regard himself as an_object_of commiseration, but went on
talking and_laughing_in_the highest spirits, giving a_rapid summary of
