"I think you are in a certain way responsible for the present situation," answered Orsino. "That is the reason why I come to you for help."
Spicca turned upon the young man rather suddenly.
"There you go too far," he said. "Do you mean to tell me that you have asked that lady to marry you because I suggested it?"
"No, but—"
"Then I am not responsible at all. Besides, you might have consulted me again, if you had chosen. I have not been out of town. I sincerely wish that it were possible—yes, that is quite another matter. But it is not. If Madame d'Aranjuez thinks it is not, from her point of view there are a thousand reasons why I should consider it far more completely out of the question. As for preventing her from leaving Rome I could not do that even were I willing to try."
"Then I will go with her," said Orsino, angrily.
Spicca looked at him in silence for a few moments. Orsino rose to his feet and prepared to go.
"You leave me no choice," he said, as though Spicca had protested.
"Because I cannot and will not stop her? Is that any reason why you should compromise her reputation as you propose to do?"
"It is the best of reasons. She will marry me then, out of necessity."