At the Seventh Circle⁠—but no matter for that: all the Circles are alike to the three young Misses, fair and fat⁠—at the Seventh Circle, nevertheless, my pupils are sticking fast; and I, to set them going again, recite, explain, and blow myself up red-hot with useless enthusiasm, when⁠—a creak of boots in the passage outside, and in comes the golden Papa, the mighty merchant with the naked head and the two chins.⁠—Ha! my good dears, I am closer than you think for to the business, now. Have you been patient so far? or have you said to yourselves, ‘Deuce-what-the-deuce! Pesca is long-winded tonight?’ ”

We declared that we were deeply interested. The Professor went on: