"Not quite," said Monte Fato with a smile. "I also have in mind a marriage project of my own. A young scion of the Gondorian nobility and son of the chastellain of Castel Gandolfo, Andurillo Pseudonimo, has been entrusted to my care; his father is adamant that the young man should wed one of the wealthier families of Arnor, and would accept no bride less than the heiress of the Banks of Gondor and Arnor. The Sacqueville-Danglars fill the requirements marvellously: to Castel Gandolfo such a victory would bring great wealth, and to the Sacqueville-Danglars both cachet and hitmen. Indeed, I had in mind to invite Andurillo to my rustic soirée."
"Thank you, my dear Count; you are gracious to me beyond any politesses of the Kings of Old, and my pipe floweth over, which the Wise say is an appalling waste of tobacco. À propos, I have received news from Arafrantz. He is enjoying Lottaloria, but misses you; says that you illuminated the social life of Galadrona as Nimrot, the White Weed of Gondor, illumined the sky of Mina Tiretta."
"Charming young Dunédain!" said the Count. "Did he not also have marriage projects?"
"Yes, he was to marry Mlle. de Villefaramir. But they say there was as much marital sympathy between them as between Mlle. de Sacqueville-Danglars and me. Reportedly, Valartine has an incurable aversion to any man that be not a tenor."
