The result was that the young man's mental position was unbalanced, and he was inclined to return to a more normal condition of thought.

Don Paolo did not know all this, but he saw that Gianbattista had grown more quiet during the last year, and he hoped that his marriage with Lucia would complete the change.

To see her thrown into the arms of a man like Gasparo Carnesecchi was more than the priest's affection for his niece could bear.

He hardly believed that Marzio would seriously think again of the scheme, and he entertained a hope that the subject would not even be broached for some time to come.
Marzio continued to draw in silence, and after a few minutes, Don Paolo rose to take his leave.

The chiseller did not look up from his pencil.
"Good-night, Marzio--let it be a good piece of work," said Paolo.
"Good-night," growled the artist, his eyes still fixed on the paper.