"I should think not, indeed! And, doubtless, Milan would have been
but too glad to retain La Lalli, had it not been for some
unimportant contretemps. Ludovico shall put the matter in its right
light."
As he spoke, the Marchese rang a little hand-bell which stood on his
library table; and on a servant entering from the anteroom, he told
him just to step across to the Circolo, and request the Marchese
Ludovico to be so good as to come to him for five minutes.
In very little more than that time the man returned, saying that the
Marchese Ludovico was not at the Circolo. He had been there for a
few minutes at the beginning of the evening, but had gone away
without saying whither he was going.
The Marchese knitted his brows when this message was given to him;
and after a minute's thoughtful silence, shook his head in a manner
that showed him to be not a little displeased. From a look of
intelligence that might have been observed in Signor Ercole's eyes,
it might have been judged that he understood that the Marchese was
more annoyed than on account of the momentary frustration of his
immediate purpose, and that he was aware of the nature of his
annoyance. But he did not venture to say any word on the subject;
and the Marchese took leave of him, merely saying that he would not
forget to act on Signor Ercole's caution when he should see his
nephew the next morning.
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