There is a civil marriage at the Capitol--" "I should be quite satisfied with your benediction--a _Pater Noster_, an _Oremus_ properly said--eh?
Would it not be all right ?" "Really, Tista!" exclaimed the good man, holding up his hands in horror.
"I had no idea that your religious education had been so neglected! My dear child, marriage is a very solemn thing." "By Diana! I should think so! But that need not make it such a long ceremony.

A man dies in a moment--_paff!_--the light is out!--you are dead.

It is very solemn.

The same thing for marriage.

The priest looks at you, says _Oremus_--_paff!_ You are married, and it cannot be undone! I know it is very serious, but it is only the affair of a moment." Don Paolo did not know whether to laugh or to look grave at this exposition of Gianbattista's views of death and matrimony.