Chapter III — On the Profile
“A Nappius does not observe himself out of vanity.
He observes himself out of respect for his ancestors.”
“Remember, Octavianus… a Nappius never passes by a reflection worthy of attention.”
“Still water surfaces are an opportunity for family contemplation.”
“Every Nappius has a moral duty to verify, at least once a day, that the family profile continues to maintain the dignity befitting the lineage.”
“Observe how, in the seventeenth century, the Nappius profile acquired a slight additional elegance. Experts attribute this evolution to the Florentine branch of the family.”
And Amadeus…
Amadeus would only make matters worse.
He would write in the Annals:
“A dirty mirror is not a mirror: it is a lack of respect for the lineage.”
