There has been a--sort of difficulty--your lordship understands--
spiteful things have been said--calumny--all calumny no doubt-the
constant attendant of merit, alas! we all know. But--in short--here
in Ravenna--it would not be--desirable,--your Excellency understands
and appreciates what I would say a thousand times better than I can
say it. It would be in every point of view better, as your
Excellency sees, that no idle chatter of this kind should be set
about here. It would be inexpedient for more reasons than one."
"Quite so; quite so. Your ideas on the subject are happily
judicious, Signor Ercole. What have we to do with misunderstandings
that may have arisen at Milan? Of course, it is not our business to
have ever heard anything of the kind. And I'll tell you what I'll
do, and that at once, before there is time for any mischief to be
done. I will just give my nephew a hint. He can be trusted. He is
discreet. And it will be easy for him to put down at once and
discountenance any talk of the kind, or any rumour that might find
its way among our youngsters."
"The very thing, Eccellenza! The Marchese Ludovico will understand
the thing at once. And half a word from him would give the key-note,
as I may say, to the tone of talk about the lady. Ravenna must not
be thought to be contenting herself with that which Milan rejects,"
said Signor Ercole, with the air of a patriot.
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