The murder of Count Rossi gave him serious cause for reflection.

A man don't take the trouble to be born at Sonnino, in order to let himself be assassinated: quite the contrary.

He placed the Pope--and himself--in safety, and then went to Gaeta to play the part of Secretary of State _in partibus_.
From this exile dates his omnipotence over the will of the Holy Father, his reinstatement in the esteem of the Austrians, and the consistency in his whole conduct.

Since then no more contradictions in his political life.

They who formally accused him of hesitating between the welfare of the nation and his own personal interest are reduced to silence.