"Why did she flee from here if it wasn't to go and live with her lover?
And indeed, in my opinion, it's scandalous that a Cardinal's palace should shelter such goings-on!" This was the report which he spread abroad, the accusation which he everywhere levelled against his wife, of publicly carrying on a shameless _liaison_.

In reality, however, he did not believe a word of it, being too well acquainted with Benedetta's firm rectitude, and her determination to belong to none but the man she loved, and to him only in marriage.

However, in Prada's eyes such accusations were not only fair play but also very efficacious.
And now, although he turned pale with covert exasperation, and laughed a hard, vindictive, cruel laugh, he went on to speak in a bantering tone of the proceedings for annulling the marriage, and in particular of the plea put forward by Benedetta's advocate Morano.

And at last his language became so free that Orlando, with a glance towards the priest, gently interposed: "Luigi! Luigi!" "Yes, you are right, father, I'll say no more," thereupon added the young Count.

"But it's really abominable and ridiculous.