The letter he had that morning received from the
Cardinal Secretary was a most flattering one. Perhaps he (the
Cardinal) might take some credit to himself for having performed a
friend's part, as was natural, in keeping them at Rome well
acquainted with the singular merits of the Marchese. He would,
indeed, have been neglecting his duty if he had done otherwise.
Then, after alluding lightly and gracefully to the special interest
he could not but feel, in his private capacity, in any honour which
tended yet more highly to distinguish a family with which he trusted
his own might at no distant day be allied, he told the Marchese that
it was probable that nothing would be done in the matter till after
Easter.
It was the gracious wish of the Holy Father to enhance the honour
bestowed by conferring it with his own apostolic hand; and,
doubtless, as soon as Lent should be over, it would be intimated to
the Marchese that the Holy Father was desirous of seeing him at
Rome. When he came back thence his fellow-citizens would, in all
probability, wish to mark, by some little festivity or otherwise,
with which he, on the part of the government, should have great
pleasure in associating himself, their sense of the honour done to
their city in the person of its most distinguished citizen.
The Marchese, while the Cardinal Legate was making all these
gracious communications, strove to look as "like the time" and the
occasion as he could.
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