e dawn。 She could still； after all these years； remember the blue mountains with the bright moon above them； and how a far…off town on one of the peaks had gradually grown whiter and whiter； till the moon faded； the mountains were touched with the pink of the rising sun； and suddenly the town was lit as by an illumination2； one window after another catching and reflecting the sun’s beams； till at last the whole little city twinkled and sparkled up in the sky like a nest of stars。
That morning； finding they would have to wait while their carriage was being repaired； they had driven in a local conveyance up to the city on the mountain； where they had been told they would find better quarters； and there they had stayed two or three days。 It was one of the miniature Italian cities with a high church； a pretentious piazza； a few narrow streets and little palaces； perched； all pact and plete； on the top of a mountain； within an enclosure of walls hardly larger than an English kitchen garden。 But it was full of life and noise echoing all day and all night with the sounds of feet and voices。
The Cafe of the simple inn where they stayed was the meeting place of the notabilities of the little city； the Sindaco； the avvocato； the doctor； and a few others； and among them they noticed a beautiful； slim； talkative old man； with bright black eyes and snow…white hair—tall and straight and still with the figure of a youth； although the waiter told them with pride that the Conte