Hardly was old Ducconius buried when young Furfur lost his head completely and fell madly in love with Marcia.

She could have married him easily; in fact, he offered marriage, not only to her in private, but before witnesses.

She, for some reason, would not hear of marrying him.

In fact, Furfur, it seems, was the only bachelor hereabouts whom she was unwilling to marry.

She flouted him, derided him, and finally forbade him her house and ordered him never to dare to approach her.