He knew very well what his father would think of the whole plan, but he had no intention of concealing his project.  Since yesterday, he was of age and was therefore his own master to the extent of his own small resources.  His father had not the power to keep him from entering upon any honourable undertaking, though he might justly refuse to be responsible for the consequences.  At the worst, thought Orsino, those consequences might be the loss of the money he had in hand.  Since he had nothing else to risk, he had nothing else to lose.  That is the light in which most inexperienced people regard speculation.  Orsino therefore went to his father and unfolded his scheme, without mentioning Del Ferice.

Sant’ Ilario listened rather impatiently and laughed when Orsino had finished.  He did not mean to be unkind, and if he had dreamed of the effect his manner would produce, he would have been more careful.  But he did not understand his son, as he himself had been understood by his own father.

“This is all nonsense, my boy,” he answered.  “It is a mere passing fancy.  What do you know of business or architecture, or of a dozen other matters which you ought to understand thoroughly before attempting anything like what you propose?”

Orsino was silent, and looked out of the window, though he was evidently listening.

“You say you want an occupation.  This is not one.  Banking is an occupation, and architecture is a career, but what we call affairs in Rome are neither one nor the other.  If you want to be a banker you must go into a bank and do clerk’s work for years.  If you mean to follow architecture as a profession you must spend four or five years in study at the very least.”

“San Giacinto has not done that,” observed Orsino coldly.

“San Giacinto has a very much better head on his shoulders than you, or I, or almost any other man in Rome.  He has known how to make use of other men’s talents, and he had a rather more practical education than I would have cared to give you.  If he were not one of the most honest men alive he would certainly have turned out one of the greatest scoundrels.”

“I do not see what that has to do with it,” said Orsino.

“Not much, I confess.  But his early life made him understand men as you and I cannot understand them, and need not, for that matter.”

“Then you object to my trying this?”

“I do nothing of the kind.  When I object to the doing of anything I prevent it, by fair words or by force.  I am not inclined for a pitched battle with you, Orsino, and I might not get the better of you after all.  I will be perfectly neutral.  I will have nothing to do with this business.  If I believed in it, I would give you all the capital you could need, but I shall not diminish your allowance in order to hinder you from throwing it away.  If you want more money for your amusements or luxuries, say so.  I am not fond of counting small expenses,