“Such a loss, such a marvel,” Benivieni says, behind him. “Truly he was the Phoenix of our age.” It’s true, but he resents Benivieni saying it. Now the Count is dead, Benivieni will spend the rest of his life going around telling people how close they were, how he was his best friend. Girolamo sees it so clearly he isn’t sure whether it’s prophecy or just an observation of human nature.
