"Folco," he said quietly, "I want to ask you a question, and I want you to answer me seriously. Will you?"
"As well as I can," answered Corbario, instantly changing his tone and growing earnest.
"Don't be surprised," Marcello said, half apologetically, as if he were already weakening. "I shall never do anything without your advice. Of course you know how I feel about all this, that I am leading a disorderly life, and—well, you understand!"
"Perfectly, my dear boy. I only wish to help you out of it as soon as possible, if you want to be helped. I'm quite sure that you will pull through in time. I have always believed in you."
"Thank you. I know you have. Well, I'll ask you my question. You know well enough that I shall never care for society much, don't you?"
"Society will care for you," answered Folco. "What is the question?"
"I'm coming to it, but I want to explain, or it will not be quite clear. You see, it is not as if I were a personage in the world."
"What sort of personage? Please explain."
"I mean, if I were the head of a great house, with a great title and hereditary estate."
"What has that to do with it?" Folco was mystified.