During their stay at Civita Vecchia, chance favoured him so far, that he learned the physician under whose care she was placed was one who formerly resided near their own estates, whom he knew well in the first years of his acquaintance with the Riccardini family, and to whom he had himself been of essential service by recovering money due to him from the legacy of an English patient. To this gentleman he determined to apply in the first place, that he might on no account venture to reside in Rome till he knew how to place himself at the greatest possible distance from the establishment of the Marchese di Morello.
He learnt all that he wished, yet dreaded to hear. Margarita was hopelessly ill, yet not in immediate danger. "She married to please her father, and she is dying to satisfy herself. Had her child lived, it might have won her to the love of life, perhaps to the love of its father, for the marchese is handsome and clever, and fond of her to distraction. His own love renders him conscious of the deficiency of hers, but hitherto her coldness has been attributed to her mother's habits and manners; should he discover the truth, the volcano in his bosom would flame out to her destruction, in the state to which she is reduced. She knows you are in this neighbourhood, and would give the world to see you, if only for five minutes. She talks perpetually of entreating your pardon—of living only to be forgiven."
"Does she not know I am married?"
