“Monsieur,” he said, “I am Monsieur Roguin, your daughter’s notary, and we have come—­my colleague and I—­to fulfil the intentions of the law and—­put an end to the divisions which—­appear—­to exist—­between yourself and Mademoiselle, your daughter,—­on the subject—­of—­her —­marriage with Monsieur Luigi Porta.”

This speech, pedantically delivered, probably seemed to Monsieur Roguin so fine that his hearer could not at once understand it.  He paused, and looked at Bartolomeo with that peculiar expression of the mere business lawyer, a mixture of servility with familiarity.  Accustomed to feign much interest in the persons with whom they deal, notaries have at last produced upon their features a grimace of their own, which they take on and off as an official “pallium.”  This mask of benevolence, the mechanism of which is so easy to perceive, irritated Bartolomeo to such an extent that he was forced to collect all the powers of his reason to prevent him from throwing Monsieur Roguin through the window.  An expression of anger ran through his wrinkles, which caused the notary to think to himself:  “I’ve produced an effect.”

“But,” he continued, in a honeyed tone, “Monsieur le baron, on such occasions our duties are preceded by—­efforts at—­conciliation—­Deign, therefore, to have the goodness to listen to me—­It is in evidence that Mademoiselle Ginevra di Piombo—­attains this very day—­the age at which the law allows a respectful summons before proceeding to the celebration of a marriage—­in spite of the non-consent of the parents.  Now—­it is usual in families—­who enjoy a certain consideration—­who belong to society—­who preserve some dignity—­to whom, in short, it is desirable not to let the public into the secret of their differences —­and who, moreover, do not wish to injure themselves by blasting with reprobation the future of a young couple (for—­that is injuring themselves), it is usual, I say—­among these honorable families—­not to allow these summonses—­to take place—­or remain—­a monument to —­divisions which should end—­by ceasing—­Whenever, monsieur, a young lady has recourse to respectful summons, she exhibits a determination too marked to allow of a father—­of a mother,” here he turned to the baroness, “hoping or expecting that she will follow their wishes —­Paternal resistance being null—­by reason of this fact—­in the first place—­and also from its being nullified by law, it is customary—­for every sensible man—­after making a final remonstrance to his child —­and before she proceeds to the respectful summons—­to leave her at liberty to—­”