He had good blood in him, and the hereditary courage often found with it.

He had a certain skill in matters worldly; but his wit in things political seemed to belong to an earlier generation, and to be incapable of receiving new impressions.
But Valdarno, who was vain and set great value on his opinions, was deeply offended at the way Astrardente spoke of him and his friends.

In his eyes he was risking much for what he considered a good object, and he resented any contemptuous mention of Liberal principles, whenever he dared.

No one cared much for Astrardente, and certainly no one feared him; nevertheless in those times men hesitated to defend anything which came under the general head of Liberalism, when they were likely to be overheard, or when they could not trust the man to whom they were speaking.

If no one feared Astrardente, no one trusted him either.
Valdarno consequently judged it best to smother his annoyance at the old man's words, and to retaliate by striking him in a weak spot.
"If you despise Del Ferice as much as you say," he remarked, "I wonder that you tolerate him as you do." "I tolerate him.