Corona and Giovanni were once more united, though the
circumstances that had produced so terrible a breach between them
had left a shadow on their happiness. Gouache had fought his
battle and had returned with a slight wound so that as soon as he
could go out he would be able to renew his visits at the Palazzo
Montevarchi and see Faustina without resorting to any more
ingenious stratagems. San Giacinto had failed to produce the
trouble he had planned, but his own prospects were brilliant
enough. His marriage with Flavia was to take place on the last of
the month and the preliminaries were being arranged as quickly as
possible. Flavia herself was delighted with the new dignity she
assumed in the family, and if she was not positively in love with
San Giacinto, was enough attracted by him to look forward with
pleasure upon the prospect of becoming his wife. Old Montevarchi
alone seemed preoccupied and silent, but his melancholy mood was
relieved by occasional moments of anticipated triumph, while he
made frequent visits to the library and seemed to find solace in
the conversation of the librarian, Arnoldo Meschini.
In the future of each of these persons there was an element of
uncertainty which most of them disregarded. As Corona recovered,
Giovanni began to think that she would really forget as well as
forgive all he had made her suffer.
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