The Marchese's extreme dislike to appearing thus
publicly had been in no degree overcome or diminished. And it was
only the lawyer's positive and repeated declaration, that he would
assuredly be sent for, if he did not spontaneously present himself,
that had availed to induce him to say at length that he would go.
Every possible attention, the lawyer had assured him, would be paid
to him, and everything done to make his attendance as little
disagreeable to him as possible. Of course, as Fortini urged, it was
well known, through the city how dreadfully he must have been
affected by the sad circumstances that had happened--people would be
prepared to see him looking ill and changed. Curious? Yes, of course
people were curious--it was impossible to prevent them from being
so; but he, Fortini, would take care that their curiosity should not
be manifested in any way that could be offensive to the Marchese.
Thus, an unwilling consent to attend the sitting of the court on the
morning of the trial had been forced from the unhappy Marchese,--
from him who, so few weeks ago before the fatal coming of the
fascinating singer to Ravenna, had been the happiest, the most
prosperous, and the most secure of men; and it had been arranged
that Signor Fortini should, on that morning; call for him at the
Palazzo and accompany him to the tribunal.
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