He was intimate with the Cardinal Legate, and a frequent and honoured guest at the palace.

Of course in matters of orthodoxy and well-affected sentiments towards the Church and its government he was all that the agents of that government could desire.

It has already been said that he was at the head of all matters musical and theatrical in Ravenna.

And besides all this, he gave every year three grand balls in Carnival; and his house was at all times open every Sunday and Wednesday evening to the elite of the society of the city.
Gradually it had come to be understood, rather by tacit agreement among the society which frequented these reunions than in obedience to any desire expressed by the Marchese on the subject, that on the Sunday evening ladies were expected; and on those days a sister-in-law of the Marchese, the widow of a younger brother, was always there to do the honours of the Palazzo Castelmare.

The Wednesday evening parties had come to be meetings of gentlemen only.