He always
makes a point of showing those people attention; and besides he had
so much to do with bringing her here. I dare say we shall hear her
once or twice again in this house before she leaves Ravenna. My
uncle is fond of getting up some good music in Lent, when he can."
"The Marchese Lamberto did not look to me as if he was tired or
bored," said Violante, thoughtfully. "I hope he is not. Here comes
that absurd animal Leandro again. Did you ever see anything so
outrageously ridiculous?"
Ludovico and the Contessa then rose from their seats, and Violante
taking his arm drew him in the direction in which the Marchese
Lamberto had led the white satin domino.
CHAPTER IX
Paolina's Return to the City
There remained now but one day more of that Carnival, which remained
memorable for many years afterwards in Ravenna, for the terrible
catastrophe that marked its conclusion.
All that these people, whose passions, and hopes, and fears have
been laid open to the reader, were doing during those Carnival weeks
was gradually leading up, after the manner of human acts, to the
terrible event which rounded off the action with such fatal
completeness. And the catastrophe was now at hand.
During the reception at the Castelmare palace on that night of the
last day of Carnival but one, the white domino, whom Ludovico had
rightly supposed to be Bianca--a guess which had been shared by many
other persons in the room--had pretty exclusively occupied the
attention of the Marchese Lamberto.
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