The engineer interrupted him.
"The Marchesa is right," said he. "My niece is neither of noble birth, nor has she a penny. How can you expect the Marchesa to be satisfied?"
Signor Giacomo stopped short, rather disconcerted, and stared at the engineer, blinking his sorrowful eyes.
"How is this? You don't really mean to say she is right?"
"I never approve of acting contrary to the wishes of parents, or of those who represent the parents. But I, dear Signor Giacomo, am an old-fashioned man like yourself, a man of the time of Carlo Umberto, as they say hereabouts. Now, the world wags differently, and we must let it wag. Therefore, having expressed my opinions on this point, I said to my relatives: 'Now do as you like. But when you have decided one way or another, let me know what is to be done, and I shall be ready!'"
"And what does Signora Teresina say?"
"My sister? My sister, poor creature, says: 'If I can see them settled in life, I shall no longer dread death.'"
Signor Giacomo breathed hard, as was his habit whenever he heard that last, unpleasant word pronounced.
"But it is surely not so bad as that?" said he.
"Who can tell?" the engineer replied, very seriously. "We must trust in the Almighty."