Next, the lingering love for his child had been eaten up in the same way, and Marzio said to himself that the girl had joined the enemy, and was no longer worthy of his confidence.

Lastly, the change in Gianbattista's character and ideas seemed to destroy the last link which bound the chiseller to his family.
Henceforth, his hand was against each one of his household, and he fancied that they were all banded together against himself.
Every step had followed as the inevitable consequence of what had gone before.

The brooding and suspicious nature of the artist had persisted in seeing in each change in himself the blackest treachery in those who surrounded him.

His wife was an implacable enemy, his daughter a spy, his apprentice a traitor, and as for Paolo himself, Marzio considered him the blackest of villains.

For all this chain of hatreds led backwards, and was concentrated with tenfold virulence in his great hatred for his brother.