"Most decidedly not!" exclaimed the Abbé Roux, hastily, almost angrily.
Monsieur d'Antin glanced at him. "I do not necessarily allude to Donna Bianca's marriage with this unknown lover," he returned, "but to her marriage in the abstract."
The other hesitated.
"The princess, I believe, considers that it would be very unadvisable for Donna Bianca to marry too young," he said. "She has her good reasons, no doubt," he added—"women's reasons, Monsieur le Baron, with which you and I need not concern ourselves."
Monsieur d'Antin laughed softly.
"It appears to me," he said, "that Donna Bianca has proved them to be mere ideas, not reasons. I do not think my sister need be uneasy on that score. I should say, on the contrary, that in this instance marriage was advisable—very advisable indeed. You have often, I have no doubt, had to recommend it to your penitents, Monsieur l'Abbé."
The Abbé Roux spread out his hands with a deprecatory gesture. "In the present case," he said, "there are, I believe, other considerations which madame your sister, as guardian to Donna Bianca Acorari, has to take into account."
Monsieur d'Antin nodded his head. "I understand," he observed. "Pecuniary considerations."
The abbé looked at him. "In a sense—yes," he said. "The prince," he continued, "was not a man of business."
"So I have always heard," remarked Monsieur d'Antin.