But this was by no means any reason with
the Marchese for approving of his nephew's conduct. The intercourse
was altogether objectionable. Talk was engendered,--talk of an
undesirable description; and this was excessively disagreeable to
the Marchese, who had views for his nephew which might be seriously
compromised by it. A liaison of the kind, let the real nature of it
be what it would, was in any case discreditable to his nephew and
heir, and damaging more or less to the position which he wished to
see the young man occupy in the town. It was especially so, as has
been said, at the present conjuncture.
Then, of course, it could not be otherwise than injurious to the
girl. She had, in some sort, been recommended to his care. And it
disturbed him much, that the conduct of his nephew should be the
means of damaging her reputation.
Yet the Marchese, being a man of sense, knew very well that it would
not have done any good to attempt to exercise any such authority
over the young man as to forbid him to visit the lodging of the
Venetians. In the first place, such a step would, according to the
notions and ways of looking at things of the society in which he
lived, have placed him himself in a very ridiculous light;--a danger
which was not to be contemplated for an instant! And, besides, the
Marchese was very well aware that even if such an attempt did not
cause his nephew to assume a position of open rebellion, it would
only have the effect of making him do secretly and still more
objectionably what he did, as it was, comparatively openly.
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