Ludovico, too, was prevented from doing a foolish thing. It was a
very different matter in his case from that of his uncle: he would
be doing no wrong to any heir; and he was at that time of life when
men do fall in love, and are excusable if they are led by it into
doing foolish things; not to mention that, after all, the marriage
he had proposed to make was a very different one from such a
monstrous alliance as the Marchese Lamberto had meditated.
But still was it not a great blessing that the Marchesino should be
prevented from throwing himself away in that manner? The first match
in Ravenna to be carried off by an obscure and plebeian Venetian
artist. Truly it was all for the best as it was.
In their different degree these two stranger women were both
noxious, dangerous, and had done more mischief in Ravenna than the
lives of either of them were worth. And if Providence had in its
wisdom decreed that they should mutually counteract and abolish each
other--why it would behove them to see in it a signal instance of
the overruling wisdom of Heaven.
In the meantime, however, while every imaginable variety and
modification of the above ideas and opinions were forming the staple
of every conversation in every street, house, cafe, and piazza of
Ravenna, the two men, whose conduct was thus canvassed, were
assuredly suffering no light measure of retribution for aught that
they had done amiss.
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