Giovanni's first impulse was to resist any interference whatsoever in his affairs; but on receiving the Cardinal's mild answer to his own somewhat arrogant assertion of independence, he bowed politely and professed himself willing to listen to reason.
"But," he said, "since his Holiness has mentioned the matter, I beg that your Eminence will inform him that, though the question of my marriage seems to be in everybody's mouth, it is as yet merely a project in which no active steps have been taken." "I am glad of it, Giovanni," replied the Cardinal, familiarly taking his arm, and beginning to pace the hall; "I am glad of it.

There are reasons why the match appears to be unworthy of you.

If you will permit me, without any offence to Madame Mayer, I will tell you what those reasons are." "I am at your service," said Giovanni, gravely, "provided only there is no offence to Donna Tullia." "None whatever.

The reasons are purely political.

Madame Mayer--or Donna Tullia, since you prefer to call her so--is the centre of a sort of club of so-called Liberals, of whom the most active and the most foolish member is a certain Ugo del Ferice, a fellow who calls himself a count, but whose grandfather was a coachman in the Vatican under Leo XII.