“Andnowtherefollowedacourtlycompliment，withtheusualregretsformyimprisonment。HeaskedinwhatpartofItalyIwasborn，andwhenItoldhiminSaluzzo，inPiedmont，heawardedthePiedmontesesomewordsofhighpraise，andspokoparticularlyofBodoniacelebratedprinter，directorofthenationalprintingestablishmentatParma。Hiscomplimentswerebriefanddiscriminating，anddisclosedafinelycultivatedmind。
“’Andnow，sir，’saidI，’allowmetoaskyouwhoyouare。’
“’YouwerejustsingingasongthatIwrote。’
“’Theseprettyverseshereuponthewall，aretheyyours？’
“’Yes，theyare。’