The eagerness with which Gorka had accepted Hafner's name, proved, as Dorsenne and Florent had divined, his desire that his perfidious mistress should be informed of his doings.

As for the Baron, he consented--oh, irony of coincidences!--by saying to Peppino Ardea words almost identical with those which Montfanon had uttered to Dorsenne: "We will draw up, in advance, an official plan of conciliation, and, if the matter can not be arranged, we will withdraw." It was in such terms that the memorable conversation was concluded, a conversation truly worthy of the combinazione which poor Fanny's marriage represented.

There had been less question of the marriage itself than that of the services to be rendered to the infidelity of the woman who presided over the sorry traffic! Is it necessary to add that neither Ardea nor his future father-in-law had made the shadow of an allusion to the true side of the affair?
Perhaps at any other time the excessive prudence innate to the Baron and his care never to compromise himself would have deterred him from the possible annoyances which might arise from an interference in the adventure of an exasperated and discarded lover.

But his joy at the thought that his daughter was to become a Roman princess--and with what a name!--had really turned his brain.
He had, however, the good sense to say to the stunned Ardea: "Madame Steno must know nothing of it, at least beforehand.

She would not fail to inform Madame Gorka, and God knows of what the latter would be capable." In reality, the two men were convinced that it was essential, directly or indirectly, to beware of warning Maitland.