I do not say, indeed, that--I have
a sincere regard for the Marchese Ludovico. This much you may be
very sure of, Marchese, that the feelings which you have surprised
me into confessing would make it quite impossible for me to listen
to any such words from the Marchese Ludovico. But, if ever the
Marchese Ludovico were to say any word in my ear,--it would not be,"
continued Bianca, dropping her voice and speaking as if more to
herself than to him--"it would not be to offer me what his uncle was
offering me just now."
And now it flashed upon the Marchese for the first time what the
real drift of Bianca's words and conduct had been. She wanted to be
Marchesa di Castelmare. And the meaning of her last words, with
their reticences and their half-uttered expressions spoken out at
length might, he thought, be read thus: If you, Marchese Lamberto,
do not make me Marchesa di Castelmare, your nephew will be ready
enough to do so. The scandal, the wrong done to the family name, the
chatter of all the tongues in Ravenna will be none the less. The
matter would be, indeed, worse instead of better. For it would
involve the grave injury that would be done to the Lady Violante,
and the destruction of all the hopes built upon that alliance. All
this seemed to be revealed to him as by a lightning flash. But the
pang of jealousy, which had stung his heart, still remained the
foremost and most prominent occupation of his mind.
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