But I will try." Thereupon Marzio, whose manner had completely changed, puffed at his pipe until it burned freely, and then approached the table, glancing at Gianbattista and Lucia as though nothing had happened.

He drew the drawing-board which the apprentice had been using towards him, and, taking the pencil from the hand of the young man, began sketching heads on one corner of the paper.
Don Paolo looked at him gravely.

After the words Marzio had spoken, it had gone against the priest's nature to communicate to him the commission for the sacred object.

He had hesitated a moment, asking himself whether it was right that such a man should be allowed to do such work.

Then the urgency of the situation, and his knowledge of his brother's character, had told him that the diversion might avert some worse catastrophe, and he had quickly made up his mind.