I think he was aware he was playing a part; his sofa was his stage; and he lay there theatrical as Leo XI.
"I am going to play that the sofa is a hill, and slide down!"
" Valencia used every art of flashing eyes and pouting lips and gay sallythere was nothing subtle in her methodsto win Estenega to her side; but the sofa on which he sat with Chonita might have been the remotest star in the firmament.