"That is true," replied the prince, more hopefully. "It is not so bad as it looked. You must be right about that point."
"Unless the courts decide that San Giacinto is entitled to compensation and interest, because four generations have been kept out of the property."
Both men looked grave. The suggestion was unpleasant. Such judgments had been given before and might be given again.
"We had better send for our lawyer," said the prince, at last. "The sooner we know the real value of that bit of parchment the better it will be for us. I cannot bear the suspense of waiting a day to know the truth. Imagine that the very chair I am sitting upon may belong to San Giacinto. I never liked the fellow, from the day when I first found him in his inn at Aquila."
"It is not his fault," answered Giovanni, quietly. "This is a perfectly simple matter. We did not know what these papers were. Even if we had known, we should have laughed at them until we discovered that we had a cousin. After all we shall not starve, and what is a title? The Pope will give you another when he knows what has happened. I would as soon be plain Don Giovanni as Prince of Sant' Ilario."
"For that matter, you can call yourself Astrardente."
"I would rather not," said Giovanni, with something like a laugh. "But
I must tell Corona this news."
"Wait till she is herself again. It might disturb her too much."
"You do not know her!" Giovanni laughed heartily this time. "If you think she cares for such things, you are very much mistaken in her character. She will bear the misfortune better than any of us. Courage, padre mio! Things are never so black as they look at first."
"I hope not, my boy, I hope not! Go and tell your wife, if you think it best. I would rather be alone."