"
Far as he was from undervaluing the importance of the social duties
of a man and a nobleman in respect to these matters, he had always
been an earnest advocate of the marriage which Ludovico was expected
to make with the Contessa Violante; and had regarded poor Paolina,
from the first, as an intruder and disastrous mischief-maker; and
Ludovico's love for her as the unlucky caprice of a boy, respecting
which, the evident duty of all friends was to do all they could to
discourage it, put it down, and get rid of it.
So that in the matter of the commission which Ludovico had entrusted
to him, the Baron was likely enough to have somewhat different views
from those of his friend.
What a happy turning of misfortune into a blessing it would be, if
this shocking affair should be the means of getting rid of this
unlucky Paolina altogether! Not, of course, that the Baron was
capable of wishing that such getting rid of should be accomplished
by the unjust condemnation of the poor girl for such a crime. God
forbid! But, if there should be found to be a sufficient degree of
suspicion--of unexplainable mystery--to cause the exoneration of
Ludovico, and at the same time, an intimation to the Venetian
stranger that she would do well to remove herself from the happy
territory of the Holy Father, what a Godsend it would be!
Then, again, as to the real fact of Paolina's innocence, Manutoli
was seriously disposed to think that there might be grounds for
considerable doubt.
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