Just as if a man has not finally decided in such a matter
before he sends to his lawyer! It is all very--very strange. And I
have a good mind to speak to Signor Ludovico at once. I think it
would be the right thing to do,--I do think that would be the most
proper thing to do. The old fool ought to be treated as one non
compos!"
And then the old lawyer, after spending nearly an hour in such
musings, got up and went to his house,--not two minutes' walk from
his "studio"--to his solitary but comfortable two-o'clock dinner.
By the time he had finished his repast, he had made up his mind that
he would at once confer with the Marchese Ludovico on the subject of
his uncle's disastrous project. It was by that time nearly half-past
three; and Signor Fortini walked out towards the Circolo, having
little doubt that he should find Ludovico there at that hour.
But on his way thither he met the man he was in search of in the
street. The young Marchese was walking at a hurried pace, and
appeared to be scared, troubled, and heated. Nothing could be more
unlike his usual easy, lounging, poco-curante bearing. The lawyer
saw at once that something was the matter; and thought that, in all
probability, the Marchese Lamberto had been already forestalling
him, by speaking to his nephew himself on the subject of his
projected marriage.
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