"No, no," said he, "such a farce is beyond belief! It's the finest smack given to justice and common-sense that I know of.

Ah! if the marriage can also be annulled by the civil courts, and if my friend whom you see yonder be only willing, we shall amuse ourselves in Rome! Yes, indeed, I'd marry her at Santa Maria Maggiore with all possible pomp.

And there's a dear little being in the world who would take part in the _fete_ in his nurse's arms!" He laughed too loud as he spoke, alluded in too brutal a fashion to his child, that living proof of his manhood.

Was it suffering that made his lips curve upwards and reveal his white teeth?
It could be divined that he was quivering, fighting against an awakening of covert, tumultuous passion, which he would not acknowledge even to himself.
"And you, my dear Abbe ?" he hastily resumed.

"Do you know the other report?
Do you know that the Countess is coming here ?" It was thus, by force of habit, that he designated Benedetta, forgetting that she was no longer his wife.
"Yes, I have just been told so," Pierre replied; and then he hesitated for a moment before adding, with a desire to prevent any disagreeable surprise: "And we shall no doubt see Prince Dario also, for he has not started for Naples as I told you.