Book 2, Chapter 10: Dechartre Arrives in Florence

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​⁠They had dressed for dinner. In the drawing-room Miss Bell was sketching monsters in imitation of Leonard. She created them, to know what they would say afterward, sure that they would speak and express rare ideas in odd rhythms, and that she would listen to them. It was in this way that she often found her inspiration.

Prince Albertinelli strummed on the piano the Sicilian ‘O Lola’! His soft finge