"Oh, you mean the Roman feasts?"
"The plébiscite?"
"The arrival of the king?"
"No, indeed, no: something quite different."
"Well, tell us."
"But sit down."
"Oh, how is it that we have heard nothing about it here?"
"How can I tell? All I know is, that to be the first who brings you this news is the greatest pleasure I have experienced in my whole life. I arrived this morning at Florence: they knew all about it. I left immediately. Who knows? thought I, perhaps the news has not yet reached home. I am out of breath."
"Tell us! tell quickly!"
They all seated themselves around him.