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Then he was silent； crossed his arms； bowed his head on his breast；
and said not another word during the whole evening。
After once giving utterance to her will； Ginevra affected
inconceivable coolness。 She opened the piano and sang； played charming
nocturnes and scherzos with a grace and sentiment which displayed a
perfect freedom of mind； thus triumphing over her father； whose
darkling face showed no softening。 The old man was cruelly hurt by
this tacit insult； he gathered in this one moment the bitter fruits of
the training he had given to his daughter。 Respect is a barrier which
protects parents as it does children； sparing grief to the former；
remorse to the latter。
The next day； when Ginevra sought to leave the house at the hour when
she usually went to the studio； she found the gates of the mansion
closed to her。 She said nothing； but soon found means to inform Luigi
Porta of her father's severity。 A chambermaid； who could neither read
nor write； was able to carry letters between the lovers。 For five days
they corresponded thus； thanks to the inventive shrewdness of the
youth。
The father and daughter seldom spoke to each other。 Both were nursing
in the depths of their heart a sentiment of hatred； they suffered； but
they suffered proudly； and in silence。 Recognizing how strong were the
ties of love which bound them to each other； they each tried to break
them； but without success。 No gentle thought came； as formerly； to
brighten the stern features of Piombo when he contemplated his
Ginevra。 The girl had something savage in her eye when she looked at
her father； reproach sat enthroned on that innocent brow； she gave
herself up； it is true； to happy thoughts； and yet； at times； remorse
seemed to dull her eyes。 It was not difficult to believe that she
could never enjoy； peacefully； any happiness which caused sorrow to
her parents。
With Bartolomeo； as with his daughter； the hesitations of this period
caused by the native goodness of their souls were； nevertheless；
compelled to give way before their pride and the rancor of their
Corsican nature。 They encouraged each other in their anger； and closed
their eyes to the future。 Perhaps they mutually flattered themselves
that the one would yield to the other。
At last； on Ginevra's birthday； her mother； in despair at the
estrangement which； day by day； assumed a more serious character；
meditated an attempt to reconcile the father and daughter； by help of
the memories of this family anniversary。 They were all three sitting
in Bartolomeo's study。 Ginevra guessed her mother's intention by the
timid hesitation on her face； and she smiled sadly。
At this moment a servant announced two notaries； accompanied by
witnesses。 Bartolomeo looked fixedly at these persons； whose cold and
formal faces were grating to souls so passionately strained as those
of the three chief actors in this scene。 The old man turned to his
daughter and looked at her uneasily。 He saw upon her face a smile of
triumph which made him expect some shock； but； after the manner of
savages； he affected to maintain a deceitful indifference as he gazed
at the notaries with an assumed air of calm curiosity。 The strangers
sat down； after being invited to do so by a gesture of the old man。
〃Monsieur is； no doubt； M。 le Baron di Piombo？〃 began the oldest of
the notaries。
Bartolomeo bowed。 The notary made a slight inclination of the head；
looked at Ginevra with a sly expression； took out his snuff…box；
opened it； and slowly inhaled a pinch； as if seeking for the words
with which to open his errand； then； while uttering them； he made
continual pauses （an oratorical manoeuvre very imperfectly represented
by the printer's dash）。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃I am Monsieur Roguin； your daughter's notary；
and we have comemy colleague and Ito fulfil the intentions of the
law andput an end to the divisions whichappearto existbetween
yourself and Mademoiselle； your daughter；on the subjectofher
marriage with Monsieur Luigi Porta。〃
This speech； pedantically delivered； probably seemed to Monsieur
Roguin so fine that his hearer could not at once understand it。 He
paused； and looked at Bartolomeo with that peculiar expression of the
mere business lawyer； a mixture of servility with familiarity。
Accustomed to feign much interest in the persons with whom they deal；
notaries have at last produced upon their features a grimace of their
own； which they take on and off as an official 〃pallium。〃 This mask of
benevolence； the mechanism of which is so easy to perceive； irritated
Bartolomeo to such an extent that he was forced to collect all the
powers of his reason to prevent him from throwing Monsieur Roguin
through the window。 An expression of anger ran through his wrinkles；
which caused the notary to think to himself： 〃I've produced an
effect。〃
〃But；〃 he continued； in a honeyed tone； 〃Monsieur le baron； on such
occasions our duties are preceded byefforts atconciliationDeign；
therefore； to have the goodness to listen to meIt is in evidence
that Mademoiselle Ginevra di Piomboattains this very daythe age at
which the law allows a respectful summons before proceeding to the
celebration of a marriagein spite of the non…consent of the parents。
Nowit is usual in familieswho enjoy a certain considerationwho
belong to societywho preserve some dignityto whom； in short； it is
desirable not to let the public into the secret of their differences
and who； moreover； do not wish to injure themselves by blasting with
reprobation the future of a young couple （forthat is injuring
themselves）； it is usual； I sayamong these honorable familiesnot
to allow these summonsesto take placeor remaina monument to
divisions which should endby ceasingWhenever； monsieur； a young
lady has recourse to respectful summons； she exhibits a determination
too marked to allow of a fatherof a mother；〃 here he turned to the
baroness； 〃hoping or expecting that she will follow their wishes
Paternal resistance being nullby reason of this factin the first
placeand also from its being nullified by law； it is customaryfor
every sensible manafter making a final remonstrance to his child
and before she proceeds to the respectful summonsto leave her at
liberty to〃
Monsieur Roguin stopped； perceiving that he might talk on for two
hours without obtaining any answer； he felt； moreover； a singular
emotion at the aspect of the man he was attempting to convert。 An
extraordinary revolution had taken place on Piombo's face； his
wrinkles； contracting into narrow lines； gave him a look of
indescribable cruelty； and he cast upon the notary the glance of a
tiger。 The baroness was mute and passive。 Ginevra； calm and resolute；
waited silently； she knew that the notary's voice was more potent than
hers； and she seemed to have decided to say nothing。 At the moment
when Roguin ceased speaking； the scene had become so terrifying that
the men who were there as witnesses trembled； never； perhaps； had they
known so awful a silence。 The notaries looked at each other； as if in
consultation； and finally rose and walked to the window。
〃Did you ever meet people born into the world like that？〃 asked Roguin
of his brother notary。
〃You can't get anything out of him；〃 replied the younger man。 〃In your
place； I should simply read the summons。 That old fellow isn't a
comfortable person； he is furious； and you'll gain nothing whatever by
arguing with him。〃
Monsieur Roguin then read a stamped paper； containing the 〃respectful
summons；〃 prepared for the occasion； after which he proceeded to ask
Bartolomeo what answer he made to it。
〃Are there laws in France which destroy paternal authority？〃
demanded the Corsican。
〃Monsieur〃 said Roguin； in his honeyed tones。
〃Which tear a daughter from her father？〃
〃Monsieur〃
〃Which deprive an old man of his last consolation？〃
〃Monsieur； your daughter only belongs to you if〃
〃And kill him？〃
〃Monsieur； permit me〃
There is nothing more horrible than the coolness and precise reasoning
of notaries amid the many passionate scenes in which they are
accustomed to take part。
The forms that Piombo saw about him seemed； to his eyes； escaped from
hell； his repressed and concentrated rage knew no longer any bounds as
the calm and fluted voice of the little notary uttered the words：
〃permit me。〃 By a sudden movement he sprang to a dagger that was
hanging to a nail above the fireplace； and rushed toward his daughter。
The younger of the two notaries and one of the witnesses threw
themselves before Ginevra； but Piombo knocked them violently down； his
face on fire； and his eyes casting flames more terrifying than the
glitter of the dagger。 When Ginevra saw him approach her she looked at
him with an air of triumph； and advancing slowly； knelt down。 〃No； no！
I cannot！〃 he cried； flinging away the weapon； which buried