So that her engagement of marriage to
one who, though reserved in manner and without "go," was yet every
inch a gentleman, and a determined opposer of sophistry and humbug,
had considerably disturbed his little plans, and the unsettlement of
anything he had set his heart upon greatly displeased him. He
generally had his own way in most things, and could not at all
comprehend why he was not to have it now. But among all the people
who discussed the intended marriage there were two who were so well
satisfied as to be almost jubilant, and these were the Monsignori
Moretti and Gherardi. These worthies met together in one of the
private chambers set apart for the use of the Papal court in the
Vatican, and heartily congratulated each other on the subjugation
and enthralment of Aubrey Leigh, which meant, as they considered,
the consequent removal of a fierce opponent to the Roman Catholic
movement in England.
"Did I not tell you," said Moretti, as he untied some papers he had
been carrying, and sat down at a table to glance over them, "Did I
not tell you that when all other arguments fail, the unanswerable
one of woman can be brought in to clinch every business?"
Gherardi, though in a way contented, was not altogether so sure of
his goal.
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