"If he is not the man he will not venture to take any
steps in the matter, lest he should be exposed and lose what he
has."
"What will you do?"
"I hardly know. If he is really our cousin, we must give up
everything without a struggle. We are impostors, or little better.
I think I ought to tell him plainly how the deed is made out, in
order that he may judge whether or not he is in a position to
prove his identity."
"Do you imagine that he does not know all about it as well as we
ourselves?"
"Probably not--otherwise he would have spoken."
"The papers came back from Montevarchi to-day," said Corona. "It
is gratuitous to suppose that the old man has not told his future
son-in-law what they contain. Yes--you see it yourself. Therefore
San Giacinto knows. Therefore, also, if he is the man he pretends
to be, he will let you know his intentions soon enough. I fancy
you forgot that in your excitement. If he says nothing, it is
because he cannot prove his rights."
"It is true," replied Giovanni, "I did not think of that.
Nevertheless I would like to be beforehand. I wish him to know
that we shall make no opposition. It is a point of honour."
"Which a woman cannot understand, of course," added Corona,
calmly.
"I did not say that.
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