His elder brother, the grandfather of the Lady Violante, had inherited the family estates in the neighbourhood of Pesaro, and had died, leaving them to his only son, Violante's father, when the latter was a very young man.
This Conte Alberto Marliani had married for love, as it is called.

That is to say, that he had not married for any of the reasons for which marriages among people of his rank and his country are usually made; but had been attracted by a pretty gentle face seen in a Roman ball-room.
The pretty gentle face had remained always gentle; but had soon ceased to be pretty.
The Contessa Marliani was inclined to devotion.

The Conte was very much disinclined to anything of the sort.

He soon got tired of his wife, repented of his marriage, and commenced an active system of breaking her heart.

It was not a very difficult task, for she was as gentle in spirit as in face.