'I came to you because I had no choice but to come,' he answered quietly. 'I love her, she loves me, and we are engaged to be married. It was absolutely necessary that I should speak to you.'
'I do not see the necessity, since you knew very well that I should not consent.'
'You must consent in the end, father—'
'I will not. That ends it. It is the worst blood in Italy, and some of the worst blood in Europe. Corleone was a scoundrel, his father was a traitor—'
'That does not affect Donna Vittoria so far as I can see,' said Orsino, stubbornly.
'It affects the whole family. Besides, if they are decent people, they will not consent either. It is not a week since you killed Ferdinando Pagliuca—Vittoria's brother—'
'They deny it.'
'They lie, I believe.'
'That is their affair,' said Orsino.