But on his way thither he met the man he was in search of in the street. The young Marchese was walking at a hurried pace, and appeared to be scared, troubled, and heated. Nothing could be more unlike his usual easy, lounging, poco-curante bearing. The lawyer saw at once that something was the matter; and thought that, in all probability, the Marchese Lamberto had been already forestalling him, by speaking to his nephew himself on the subject of his projected marriage. "Oh, Signor Ludovico," said Fortini, as he met him, "I was on my way, to the Circolo, on purpose to see if I could meet with you there." "Why, what is it? Have you any news to tell me?" said the young man in a hurried manner, that the lawyer thought odd. "Yes. I wished to speak to you on rather an important matter. Have you seen the Marchese Lamberto this morning?" "No. I have been out of the town. I am but this moment come back," replied Ludovico, evidently anxiously. "I should be glad to speak to you for a few minutes before you go to the Palazzo Castelmare. If you are going to the Circolo, I would walk with you, and we could speak there," said Fortini. "I'll be there in less than ten minutes. But I want first to run just as far as La Lalli's lodging in the Strada di Porta Sisi, only to ask a question," said Ludovico. "La Lalli again! The devil fly away with her! It was about her that I wanted to speak to you," said the lawyer. "What about her? Have you seen her? Do you know where she is?" asked Ludovico, hurriedly and anxiously. "I seen her! No. Where she is? In her bed most likely, after dancing all last night, I should think!" "Well, I must run and just ascertain whether she is at home!" said Ludovico, again trying to escape. But the old lawyer, partly put a little bit out of temper by the young man's evident wish to get rid of him, partly angered by finding the nephew thus running after the same mischief that was threatening to ruin his uncle, and partly thinking that it was desirable that the news he had to tell should be told before Ludovico should come to speech with his uncle, was determined not to let him escape till he had said what he had to say. "Very well, Signor. I can say what I have to say in the street as well as anywhere else. Though I confess I expected a somewhat more ready reception of information which concerns you nearly, Signor Marchese, and which I am prompted to tell you by my interest in your welfare. Listen! Your uncle sent for me this morning for the purpose of announcing to me his intention of marrying this Bianca Lalli!" "So I have been told this very morning," said Ludovico. "I thought you said that you had not seen your uncle this morning!" returned the lawyer. "No more I have; but are there not two persons from whom such an intention may be learned?" said Ludovico, with a slight approach to a sneer. "The lady, you mean?" said Fortini. "Exactly so--the lady!" rejoined Ludovico.