"Meanwhile, you and I can consult the lawyers and see how this thing can best be accomplished quickly and surely," he added.
"You will have to send for the innkeeper--" "I will go and see him.

It will not be hard to persuade him to claim his lawful rights." Del Ferice remained some time in conversation with Donna Tullia.

The magnitude of the scheme fascinated her, and instead of thinking of breaking her promise to Ugo as she had intended doing, she so far fell under his influence as to name the wedding-day,--Easter Monday, they agreed, would exactly suit them and their plans.

Indeed the idea of refusing to fulfil her engagement had been but the result of a transitory fit of anger; if she had had any fear of making a misalliance in marrying Del Ferice, the way in which the world received the news of the engagement removed all such apprehension from her mind.

Del Ferice was already treated with increased respect--the very servants began to call him "Eccellenza," a distinction to which he neither had, nor could ever have, any kind of claim, but which pleased Donna Tullia's vain soul.