"To Pavia, or to the University of Bologna ?" "Had my advice been heeded," said he, "one or the other would have been your goal.

But your mother took counsel with Messer Arcolano." He shrugged, and there was contempt in the lines of his mouth.

He distrusted Arcolano, the regular cleric who was my mother's confessor and spiritual adviser, exerting over her a very considerable influence.
She, herself, had admitted that it was this Arcolano who had induced her to that horrid traffic in my father's life and liberty which she was mercifully spared from putting into effect.
"Messer Arcolano," he resumed after a pause, "has a good friend in Piacenza, a pedagogue, a doctor of civil and canon law, a man who, he says, is very learned and very pious, named Astorre Fifanti.

I have heard of this Fifanti, and I do not at all agree with Messer Arcolano.

I have said so.