It was certainly true, however, that he had lost strength rapidly and without the influence of any illness which could be defined, ever since the negotiations for Veronica's hand had shown signs of coming to an unsatisfactory conclusion.

And they had lasted long.
Many letters had been exchanged.

The old Duca had been several times to the Palazzo Macomer, and the count and countess had found many reasons by which to put off their decision.

For Gianluca was a good match, and altogether an exceedingly desirable young man, and the countess had always thought that if she could not marry Veronica to Bosio, it might be wisest to accept Gianluca.

He was always in delicate health, Matilda reflected, and he might possibly die and leave his wife still absolute mistress of her fortune, if the marriage contract were cleverly framed with a view to that contingency.
But the young man himself had been diffident from the beginning, and at the first hesitation on the other side he had taken it for granted that all was lost.