She is not quite sure of the value of money
yet. It might be delightful to be even much richer than she is, because
there are so many delightful things to be done in the world with money
alone. But it might turn out to be equally agreeable to have a great
name, to be somebody, to be a necessary part of society in short,
because society does a number of agreeable things not wholly dependent
upon cash for being pleasant, and indeed often largely dependent on
credit.
San Miniato attracts her, and she does not deny the fact to herself. He
is handsome, tall, fair, graceful and exceedingly well dressed. He was
several years in a cavalry regiment and is reputed to have left the
service in order to fight with a superior officer whom he disliked. In
reality his straitened means may have had something to do with the step.
At all events he scratched his major rather severely in the duel which
took place, and has the reputation of a dangerous man with the sabre. It
is said that the major's wife had something to do with the story. At
present San Miniato is about thirty years of age. His only known vice is
gambling, which is perhaps a chief source of income to him.
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