He remembered, with an uncomfortable thrill of doubt, the
little skirmish of words he had had with the fair Sylvie in the
Pamphili woods.
"You take your thoughts for deeds, and judge them as fully
accomplished while they are still in embryo!" he said, "It is true
that the engagement of marriage is settled,--but can you be certain
that in religious matters the wife may not go with her husband?"
"What!" exclaimed Moretti, opening his dark eyes quickly, as a flash
of hell-fire illumined them at the very idea, "Do you suggest that
Sylvie Hermenstein,--the last of her race--a race which, back to its
earliest source, has been distinguished for its faithful allegiance
to Mother-Church, and has moreover added largely to the Papal
revenues--could be otherwise than our obedient and docile daughter?
Per la Santissima Madonna!--if I thought she could turn against us
her marriage should never take place!"
And he brought his fist down with a fierce blow on the papers before
him.
"The marriage should never take place!" echoed Gherardi, "How could
you prevent it?"
"The Pope himself should intervene!" said Moretti, with increasing
fury, losing a little of his self-control, "Gran Dio! Conceive for a
moment the wealth of the Hermensteins being used to promulgate the
reformer Leigh's threadbare theories, and feed his rascal poor! Do
you know what Sylvie Hermenstein's fortune is? No, I suppose you do
not! But I do! She tries to keep it a secret, but I have made it my
business to find out! It is enormous!--and it is ever increasing.
Pages:
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616