I am a practical man,
you know."
"Ah, that is a great quality, one of the very greatest! If I had
spent my life in a perpetual honeymoon with the princess, Casa
Montevarchi would not be what it is, my son. I have always given
my best attention to the affairs of my household, and I expect
that you will continue the tradition."
"Never fear! If, by continuing the tradition, you mean that I
should get what is mine, I will not disappoint you. Can you tell
me when the case can be tried, and in what court it will be
heard?"
"With my influence," replied Montevarchi, "the case may be put
through at once. A month will suffice for the preliminaries, a day
for the hearing. Everything is settled at once by the exhibition
of the documents which provide for you in the most explicit terms.
You can come in from the country and see them for yourself if you
please. But I consider that quite unnecessary. The lawyers will
settle everything."
"Pardon my curiosity, but I would like to know why you thought it
best not to tell me anything of the matter until now."
"My dear son, you were so busy with the preparations for your
marriage, and the questions involved seemed at first so doubtful
that I thought it best not to trouble you with them.
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