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228 . the miracles of antichrist
old Assunta from the cathedral steps passed by, in
company with Donna Pepa and Donna Tura. And
she heard Assunta, in her solemn voice, say : " It
was the year that I heard ’ The Ancient Martyrdom ’
for the first time." Donna Emilia heard this quite
distinctly. Assunta actually said "The Ancient
Martyrdom."
To Donna Emilia it seemed as though she would
never reach home, as though her limbs were unable
to carry her fast enough. It seemed as though the
road had become much longer. When at length she
saw the theater, with its red lanterns under the roof
and the large ornate bills, it was as though she had
walked many miles.
As she entered, Don Antonio sat with his great
head resting in his hands and staring straight at the
table. It was pitiful to look at Don Antonio.
During these last weeks he had commenced to lose his
hair. On the top of his head it was so thin that the
scalp shone through. But that was not strange when
it was considered what troubles had come upon him.
While Donna Emilia had been away, he had taken
out all his dolls and examined them. He did that
every day now. He would sit looking at the doll
who played Armida. Was she then no longer
beautiful and alluring? he would ask. And he tried to
furbish up Roland’s sword or Charles the Great’s
crown. Donna Emilia saw that he had again gilded
the emperor’s crown. That was for the fifth time at
least. He had, however, ceased in the middle of his
work and sat down to brood. He had himself
become aware of it. It was not gilt that he lacked,
it was an idea.
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