. . .
Whereupon a curious change would creep over the bibliographer's honest
face. He knew what this talk portended. His features would assume an
air of strained but polite attention, and he generally broke off the
conversation and took his departure at the earliest moment consistent
with ordinary civility. On such occasions he was wont to think his
friend Keith an offensive cad. Sadly shaking his head, he would say to
himself:
"NIHIL QUOD TETIGIT NON INQUINAVIT."
CHAPTER X
Mr. Keith was apt to be a bore, but he could do things properly when he
wanted, as for example on the occasion of his annual bean-feast. There
were no two opinions about that. The trees, arbours, and winding ways
of his garden were festooned that evening with hundreds of Chinese
lamps whose multi-coloured light mingled pleasantly with the purer
radiance of the moon, shining directly overhead. It was like fairyland,
the Duchess was wont to declare, year after year. And Don Francesco
who, on this particular night, clung closely to her skirts in view of
that impending conversion to the Roman Church, replied laughingly:
"If fairyland is anything like this, I would not object to living
there.
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