“You know, love, I wanted to tell you⁠ ⁠… Countess dear⁠ ⁠… an officer came to me to ask for a few carts for the wounded. After all, ours are things that can be bought but think what being left behind means to them!⁠ ⁠… Really now, in our own yard⁠—we asked them in ourselves and there are officers among them.⁠ ⁠… You know, I think, my dear⁠ ⁠… let them be taken⁠ ⁠… where’s the hurry?”

The count spoke timidly, as he always did when talking of money matters. The countess was accustomed to this tone as a precursor of news of something detrimental to the children’s interests, such as the building of a new gallery or conservatory, the inauguration of a private theater or an orchestra. She was accustomed always to oppose anything announced in that timid tone and considered it her duty to do so.