John Singer Sargent Ponte della Canonica painting

John Singer Sargent Ponte della Canonica paintingJohn Singer Sargent Paul Helleu Sketching with his Wife paintingJohn Singer Sargent Morning Walk painting
You don't sound very grateful."
"It's not ingratitude. You have taken great trouble on my account and I don't know how to thank you properly. I was only feeling rather nervous. From what I know of Elia she's rather critical, if you understand what I mean."
He burst out laughing. "She has a tongue like a sacking-needle. But surely by now you're hardened against mere scolding? Your mother has given you a good enough training, hasn't she?"
"I am still a little thin-skinned," I said, "in places."
"Well, I mustn't stay here any longer, my dear Claudius. Tiberius will be wondering where I've gone. So it's a bargain?"
"Yes, and I thank you very much."
"Oh, by the way, it was Urgulanilla, wasn't it, who killed poor Apronia? I rather expected a tragedy. Urgulanilla had a letter from Numantina begging her to avenge her. Numantina didn't really write it, you understand."
"I know nothing. I was sound asleep at the time."
"Like PIautius?"
"Sounder even than PIautius."