It would be no marriage if Lucia had not Marzio's consent." "I wish there were no laws," grumbled the young man.

"How do you come to know so much about marriage, Don Paolo ?" "It is my profession.

Come along; we will talk to Marzio." "What can we say to him?
You do not suppose I will go and beg to be taken back ?" "You must be forgiving--" "I believe in forgiveness when the other side begins," said Gianbattista.
"Perhaps Marzio will forgive too," argued the priest.
"He has nothing to forgive," answered the young man.

The reasoning seemed to him beyond refutation.
"But if he says he has no objection, if he begs you to come back, I think you might make some advance on your side, Tista.

Besides, you were very rough with him this morning." "He turned me out like a dog--after all these years," said Gianbattista.
"I will go back and work for him on one condition.