“Well, well,” was Guglielmi’s reply, with an aspect of intense chagrin, “I had better hopes.  Your position, Fra Pacifico, as a peace-maker—­as a friend of the family—­however”—­here the lawyer shrugged his shoulders, and his eyes wandered restlessly up and down the room—­“however, at least permit me to tell you what I intend to do.”

Fra Pacifico bowed coldly.

“As you please,” was his reply.

Maestro Guglielmi advanced close to Fra Pacifico, and lowered his voice almost to a whisper.

“The circumstances attending this marriage are becoming very public.  My client, the Marchesa Guinigi, considers her position so exalted she dares to court publicity.  She forgets we are not in the middle ages.  Ha! ha!” and Guglielmi showed his teeth in a smile that was nothing but a grin—­“publicity will be fatal to the young lady.  This the marchesa fails to see; but I see it, and you see it, my father.”

Fra Pacifico shook himself all over as though silently rejecting any possible participation in Maestro Guglielmi’s arguments.  Guglielmi quite understood the gesture, but continued, perfectly at his ease: 

“The high rank of the young lady—­the wealth of the count—­a marriage-contract broken—­an illustrious name libeled—­Count Nobili, a well-known member of the Jockey Club, in concealment—­the Lucchese populace roused to fury—­all these details have reached the capital.  A certain royal personage”—­here Guglielmi drew himself up pompously, and waved his hand, as was his wont in the fervor of a grand peroration—­“a certain royal personage, who has reasons of his own for avoiding unnecessary scandal (possibly because the royal personage causes so much himself, and considers scandal his own prerogative) “—­Guglielmi emphasized his joke with such scintillation as would metaphorically have taken any other man than Fra Pacifico off his legs—­even Fra Pacifico stared at him with astonishment—­“a certain royal personage, I say—­earnestly desires that this affair should be amicably arranged—­that the republican party should not have the gratification of gloating over a sensational trial between two noble families (the republicans would make terrible capital out of it)—­a certain personage desires, I say, that the affair should be arranged—­amicably arranged—­not only by a formal marriage—­the formal marriage, of course, we positively insist on—­but by a complete reconciliation between the parties.  If this should not be so, the present ceremony will infallibly lead to a lawsuit respecting the civil marriage—­the domicile—­and the cohabitation—­which it is distinctly understood that Count Nobili will refuse, and that the Marchesa Guinigi, acting for her niece, will maintain.  It is essential, therefore, that more than the formal ceremony shall take place.  It is essential that the subsequent cohabitation—­”

“I see your drift,” interrupted downright Fra Pacifico, in his blunt way; “no need to go into further details.”