In the first place, there is no ground for granting a dispensation.' 'No ground ?' cried Severi indignantly.

'We loved each other, we meant to marry! Is that no reason ?' 'No.

You were not even formally betrothed, either before your parish priest or the mayor.

Without a solemn promise in the proper form and before witnesses, there is no binding engagement to marry.

That is not only canonical law, but Italian common law, too.' 'We had told each other,' Giovanni objected.