But then.  I was twenty-five years old.  Un altro paio di maniche!  And I very soon found out my mistake.  But he, at his time of life!  And such a woman!  Well, the Emperor Justinian married Theodora.  So, I suppose we Ravennati have authority for madness in that kind.  And that poor good fellow, the Marchese Ludovico, too!  It is too bad.  And all because such a creature as that is cunning enough to know how to drive a hard bargain for the painted face she has to sell.  But that is the sort of woman who can make that sort of conquest.  A good woman now, who would have made him an honoured and good wife, would never have made such a blind, abject slave of him.  He is bewitched!  He is mad! and ought not to be allowed to carry out so insane a project!  Perhaps it may still be possible to induce him to hear reason.  It was very odd, that way, that just at last he promised me he would think of it again before he finally decided.  Very odd.  Just as if a man has not finally decided in such a matter before he sends to his lawyer!  It is all very—­very strange.  And I have a good mind to speak to Signor Ludovico at once.  I think it would be the right thing to do,—­I do think that would be the most proper thing to do.  The old fool ought to be treated as one non compos!”

And then the old lawyer, after spending nearly an hour in such musings, got up and went to his house,—­not two minutes’ walk from his “studio”—­to his solitary but comfortable two-o’clock dinner.

By the time he had finished his repast, he had made up his mind that he would at once confer with the Marchese Ludovico on the subject of his uncle’s disastrous project.  It was by that time nearly half-past three; and Signor Fortini walked out towards the Circolo, having little doubt that he should find Ludovico there at that hour.

But on his way thither he met the man he was in search of in the street.  The young Marchese was walking at a hurried pace, and appeared to be scared, troubled, and heated.  Nothing could be more unlike his usual easy, lounging, poco-curante bearing.  The lawyer saw at once that something was the matter; and thought that, in all probability, the Marchese Lamberto had been already forestalling him, by speaking to his nephew himself on the subject of his projected marriage.

“Oh, Signor Ludovico,” said Fortini, as he met him, “I was on my way, to the Circolo, on purpose to see if I could meet with you there.”

“Why, what is it?  Have you any news to tell me?” said the young man in a hurried manner, that the lawyer thought odd.

“Yes.  I wished to speak to you on rather an important matter.  Have you seen the Marchese Lamberto this morning?”

“No.  I have been out of the town.  I am but this moment come back,” replied Ludovico, evidently anxiously.

“I should be glad to speak to you for a few minutes before you go to the Palazzo Castelmare.  If you are going to the Circolo, I would walk with you, and we could speak there,” said Fortini.