"I should be very sorry if Del Ferice died. I should never recover from it. I am not a professional duellist like Spicca. And yet Casalverde deserved his death. I can quite understand that Del Ferice might in the excitement of the moment have lunged at me after the halt was cried, but I cannot understand how Casalverde could be so infamous as not to cross his sword when he himself called. It looked very much like a preconcerted arrangement. Casalverde deserved to die, for the safety of society. I should think that Rome had had enough of duelling for a while." "Yes; but after all, Casalverde did not count for much. I am not sure I ever saw the fellow before in my life. And I suppose Del Ferice will recover. There was a story this morning that he was dead; but I went and inquired myself, and found that he was better. People are much shocked at this second duel. Well, it could not be helped. Poor old Astrardente! So we shall never see his wig again at every ball and theatre and supper-party! There was a man who enjoyed his life to the very end!" "I should not call it enjoyment to be built up every day by one's valet, like a card-house, merely to tumble to pieces again when the pins are taken out," said Giovanni. "You do not seem so enthusiastic in his defence as you were a few minutes ago," said the Prince, with a smile. Giovanni was so much disturbed at the surprising news that he hardly knew what he said. He made a desperate attempt to be sensible. "It appears to me that moral goodness and personal appearance are two things," he said, oracularly. The Prince burst into a loud laugh. "Most people would say that! Eat your dinner, Giovanni, and do not talk such arrant nonsense." "Why is it nonsense? Because you do not agree with me?" "Because you are too much excited to talk sensibly," said his father. "Do you think I cannot see it?" Giovanni was silent for a time. He was angry at his father for detecting the cause of his vagueness, but he supposed there was no help for it. At last Pasquale left the room. Old Saracinesca gave a sigh of relief. "And now, Giovannino," he said familiarly, "what have you got to say for yourself?" "I?" asked his son, in some surprise. "You! What are you going to do?" "I will stay at home," said Giovanni, shortly. "That is not the question. You are wise to stay at home, because you ought to get yourself healed of that scratch. Giovanni, the Astrardente is now a widow." "Seeing that her husband is dead--of course. There is vast ingenuity in your deduction," returned the younger man, eyeing his father suspiciously. "Do not be an idiot, Giovannino. I mean, that as she is a widow, I have no objection to your marrying her." "Good God, sir!" cried Giovanni, "what do you mean?"