Then
resuming his seat, and motioning the lawyer to take a chair, he
said--
"If you will take a chair, Signor Giovacchino, I will tell you the
business for which I have sent for you. I have thought it my duty--
family considerations--in fact, I've been thinking on the subject
for a long time--in short, Signor Fortini, I am about to be
married."
"Whew--w--w!" whistled the lawyer, without the least attempt at
concealing the extremity of his astonishment; and pushing back his
chair a couple of feet, as he raised his head to stare into his
companion's face.
"And pray, Signor, what is there to be astonished at in such an
intention?" said the Marchese, evidently wincing under the lawyer's
look.
"I beg your pardon, Signor Marchese, but--the fact is--one is always
astonished at what one does not expect, you know. You may depend on
it, I am not one bit more astonished than every human being in
Ravenna will be," said the lawyer, looking hard at him.
"I am not aware, Signor Fortini, that I have to answer to any one
save myself for the wisdom of my resolution," said the Marchese,
with a dignity more like his usual manner than he had yet spoken.
"Certainly not, Signor Marchese. Certainly not. But the exception is
an important one. You will have to answer for the wisdom of your
resolution to yourself," rejoined Fortini, drily.
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