I can hardly say that I was profoundly grieved, but the suddenness of the announcement struck me with a kind of astonishment. I inquired for the Baron; he was in, and I was taken through one after another of the vast marble rooms which, in Roman palaces, lead to the reception-room. Every room was crowded with pictures, statues, rare Eastern vases, tables and cases of bibelots, exotic plants, a profusion of showy things brought together from the ends of the world. The Baron received me with almost more than his usual ceremony. His face wore an expression of correct melancholy, he spoke in a subdued and slightly mournful voice. He told me that his beloved wife had succumbed to a protracted illness, that she had suffered greatly, but, at the end, through the skilful aid of the best surgeons in Europe, she had passed into a state of somnolency, so that her death had been almost unconscious. He raised his eyes with an air of pious resignation, and said that he thanked God for having taken to himself so admirable, so perfect a being, whose loss, indeed, must leave him inconsolable for the rest of his life on earth. He spoke in measured syllables, and always in the same precise and mournful tone. I found myself unconsciously echoing his voice and reflecting his manner, and it seemed to me as if we were both playing in a comedy, and repeating words which we had learnt by heart. I went through my part mechanically, and left him. When I found myself in the street I dismissed the cab which was waiting to take me to the Vatican. I wanted to walk. I do not know why I felt a cold shiver run through me, for the sky was cloudless, and it was the month of June. =Transcriber's Notes:= - hyphenation, spelling and grammar have been preserved as in the original (other than as listed below) Page 35, 'Lavengro" took my thoughts ==> 'Lavengro' took my thoughts Page 37, trembled with ecstacy ==> trembled with ecstasy Page 60, immensly, and especially ==> immensely, and especially Page 93, mortages left just enough ==> mortgages left just enough Page 116, in an ecstacy ==> in an ecstasy Page 129, a little pale and she ==> a little pale, and she Page 162, these confectionaries. ==> these confectionaries.' Page 196, Arlesian women one was ==> Arlesian women: one was Page 209, Allee des Tombeaux ==> Allée des Tombeaux Page 214, grown up, like Peter? ==> grown up, like Peter?' Page 229, divine will aright?' ==> divine will aright? Page 259, But what if only ==> but what if only Page 261, which is insensative ==> which is insensitive Page 262, artifically attached ==> artificially attached Page 275, in whose pyschology ==> in whose psychology Page 288, first of her chilhood ==> first of her childhood Page 291, agony as the vitrol ==> agony as the vitriol