The son and grandson of thriving lawyers, who had for nearly an
hundred years managed the affairs of the Chapter and the estates of
the principal landed proprietors of the neighbourhood, was not
likely to be otherwise than well off; and it was generally
understood that Signor Fortini was a wealthy man. He loudly
protested on all occasions that this was a most mistaken notion; but
there never occurred an opportunity of adding to his very remarkable
collection of drawings of the old masters, or his unrivalled series
of mediaeval seals, or his all but perfect library of the Municipal
Statutes of the mediaeval Communes of Italy, which found Signor
Fortini unprepared to outbid most competitors.

There were very few among his clients whom Signor Fortini would not
have expected to call on him at his "studio," instead of summoning
him to wait on them. But the Marchese di Castelmare was one of these
few,--perhaps as much, or more, on the score of old friendship as on
that of rank and social importance.

The old lawyer was not more importantly occupied when he received
the Marchese's message, than by intently examining a bronze medal
through a magnifying-glass; and he sent back word that he would be
with the Marchese immediately. The fact was he did not like the look
of this summons at all. He, too, had observed the unmistakable
change in his old friend; and jumped to the conclusion that what he
was wanted for was to make, or to be consulted about making, the
Marchese's will.

"To think of his breaking up so suddenly, in such a way as this. No
stamina! Why, he must be twenty years my junior; and I don't feel a