As to the terms on which he stood with her there were
differences of opinion. But by far the more accredited notion was
that the affair was quite a normal and ordinary one; and that the
charming Paolina was the young Marchese's mistress.
Would he give her up, when the marriage, which, as was well known to
all Ravenna, his uncle had been arranging for him with the young
Contessa Violante di Marliani, and which was expected to come off
shortly, should be consummated? That was the more interesting point
for speculation. Would he, as really seemed not impossible, be mad
enough to carry on with the Venetian girl to such an extent as to
give umbrage to the family of the Contessa, and perhaps even
endanger the match? This also was debated among his young peers of
the Circolo, while he was passing the hour in the Strada di Sta.
Eufemia.
His uncle was far from being aware how far matters had gone with his
nephew in this matter. But he knew enough to make him uneasy about
it, and to lead him to endeavour to push on the match with the
Contessa Violante by every means in his power: for the marriage with
the Lady Violante was, in every point of view, a desirable one. The
Cardinal Legate of Ravenna was a Marliani, and the young lady in
question was his great-niece--the granddaughter of his only brother.
She had lost both her parents at an early age, and now lived at
Ravenna with a great-aunt,--the younger sister of the Cardinal,
under his protection and wing, as it were.
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