Museum of Painting and Sculpture; Or, Collection of the Principal Pictures, Statues and Bas-Reliefs in the Public and Private Galleries of Europe Volu - used book

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: he should certainly go out, not wishing to lose an entire afternoon. The breakfast he readily accepted, for he was indeed dying of hunger. However, he had to wait another full half hour. Giaccomo, who served him under Victorine's orders, did everything in a most leisurely way. And Vic- torine, lacking confidence in the man, remained with the young priest to make sure that everything he might require was provided. "Ah! Monsieur 1'AbbeV' said she, "what people! What a country! You can't have an idea of it. I should never get accustomed to it even if I were to live here for a hundred years. Ah! if it were not for the Contessina, but she's so good and beautiful." Then, whilst placing a dish of figs on the table, she astonished Pierre by adding that a city where nearly everybody was a priest could not possibly be a good city. Thereupon the presence of this gay, active, unbelieving servant in the queer old palace again scared him. "What! you are not religious?" he exclaimed. "No, no, Monsieur 1'Abbe, the priests don't suit me," said Victorine; "I knew one in France when I was very little, and since I've been here I've seen too many of them. It's all over. Oh! I don't say that on account of his Eminence, who is a holy man worthy of all possible respect. And besides, everybody in the house knows that I've nothing to reproach myself with. So why not leave nie alone, since I'm fond of my employers and attend properly to my duties?" She burst into a frank laugh. " Ah! " she resumed,"when I was told that another priest was coming, just as if we hadn't enough already, I couldn't help growling to myself. But you look like a good young man, Monsieur 1'Abbe," and I feel sure we shall get on well together. ... I really don't know why I'm telling you all this ? probably it's becau...