ten minutes past eight
_ Chi lo sa ! _ ' With a sudden change of humour , Andrea kissed her on the ear , slipped an arm round her waist and proceeded to say a host of foolish things to her . The Corso was very lively , the shop windows resplendent , newspaper-vendors yelled , public and private vehicles crossed the path of their carriage ; all the stir and animation of Roman evening life was in full swing from the Piazza Colonna to the Piazza di Venezia . It was ten minutes past eight by the time they reached Doney 's . The other guests were already there . Andrea Sperelli greeted the assembled company , and taking Clara Green by the hand -- ` This , ' he said , ` is Miss Clara Green , _ ancilla Domini , Sibylla palmifera , candida puella _ . ' ' _ Ora pro nobis !