Description
THE INEVITABLE
CHAPTER I
The Marchesa Belloni’s boarding-house was situated in one of the
healthiest, if not one of the most romantic quarters of Rome. One
half of the house had formed part of a villino of the old Ludovisi
Gardens, those beautiful old gardens regretted by everybody who knew
them before the new barrack-quarters were built on the site of the old
Roman park, with its border of villas. The entrance to the pension
was in the Via Lombardia. The older or villino portion of the house
retained a certain antique charm for the marchesa’s boarders, while
the new premises built on to it offered the advantages of spacious
rooms, modern sanitation and electric light. The pension boasted a
certain reputation for comfort, cheapness and a pleasant situation:
it stood at a few minutes’ walk from the Pincio, on high ground, and
there was no need to fear malaria; and the price charged for a long
stay, amounting to hardly more than eight lire, was exceptionally
low for Rome, which was known to be more expensive than any other
town in Italy. The boarding-house therefore was generally full. The
visitors began to arrive as soon as October: those who came earliest
in the season paid least; and, with the exception of a few hurrying
tourists, they nearly all remained until Easter, going southward to
Naples after the great church festivals.
Product ID: 9781776750610
Sku: 9781776750610
