The Author of Beltraffio

Much as I wished to see him I had kept my letter of introduction three weeks in my pocket-book. I was nervous and timid about meeting him - conscious of youth and ignorance, convinced that he was tormented by strangers, and especially by my country-people, and not exempt from the suspicion that he had the irritability as well as the dignity of genius. Moreover, the pleasure, if it should occur - for I could scarcely believe it was near at hand - would be so great that I wished to think of it in advance, to feel it there against my breast, not to mix it with satisfactions more superficial and usual