Assuredly his Eminence was
not expecting the prince to repent of his bargain and to send word
that he wished to be released. The idea was absurd. The great man
might suppose, however, that Giovanni would desire to send some
communication to his wife, who would naturally be anxious about
his absence. Against this contingency, however, Sant' Ilario had
provided by means of the note he had despatched to her. Several
days would elapse before she began to expect him, so that he had
plenty of time to reflect upon his future course. Meanwhile he
resolved to ask for nothing. Indeed, he had no requirements. He
had money in his pockets and could send the attendant to buy any
linen he needed without getting it from his home.
He was in a state of mind in which nothing could have pleased him
better than solitary imprisonment. He felt at once a sense of rest
and a freedom from all responsibility that soothed his nerves and
calmed his thoughts. For many days he had lived in a condition
bordering on madness. Every interview with Corona was a
disappointment, and brought with it a new suffering. Much as he
would have dreaded the idea of being separated from her for any
length of time, the temporary impossibility of seeing her was now
a relief, of which he realised the importance more and more as the
hours succeeded each other.
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