You will
come out of this dreadful business scatheless, Signor Marchese, I
thank God for it?"
"I will not come out scatheless at the cost of Paolina's
condemnation," said the Marchese, doggedly.
"But the Marchese Lamberto, you see," continued the lawyer, without
taking any notice of his companion's interruption,--"the Marchese
Lamberto has been hit from more sides than one. The most unfortunate
and lamentable fascination that this woman seems to have exercised
over him--the deplorable fact that he should have proposed marriage
to her, and that this fact should be universally known,--it is
impossible that he should not have suffered, and still suffer
terribly. Honestly, I cannot say that I think he will ever
altogether get over it--he will never be the same man again. Would
to God that fatal woman had never come near Ravenna!"
"Many thanks for your visit, Signor Fortini, and for all the
kindness you have shown me since this sad misfortune befell. Tell my
uncle how much I have felt and feel for him. Addio, Signor Fortini.
If anything new should turn up you will not fail to let me know it?
Think of what I said about the friar; and mind, once more, and once
for all, I will not come scatheless, as you say, out of this
business and leave Paolina to be held guilty."
"Addio, Signor Marchese."
CHAPTER IV
What Ravenna thought of it
Signor Fortini had rather mitigated than exaggerated the truth in
speaking to the Marchese Ludovico of his uncle's state of mind.
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