Paolo, in his estimation, was the author of all the evil, the sole ultimate cause of domestic discord, the arch enemy of the future, the representative, in Marzio's sweeping condemnation, not only of the church and of religion, but of that whole fabric of existing society which the chiseller longed to tear down.
Marzio's socialism, for so he called it, had one good feature.

It was sincere of its kind, and disinterested.

He was not of the common herd, a lazy vagabond, incapable of continuous work, or of perseverance in any productive occupation, desiring only to be enriched by impoverishing others, one of the endless rank and file of Italian republicans, to whom the word "republic" means nothing but bread without work, and the liberty which consists in howling blasphemies by day and night in the public streets.

His position was as different from that of a private in the blackguard battalion as his artistic gifts and his industry were superior to those of the throng.

He had money, he had talent, and he had been very successful in his occupation.