"So you would withhold my uprightness, which for yourself you so
greatly desire, from the world?"
"Oh, Vico, you will promise me that. You do care for us, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"And you are sensible of your obligations toward your family. Even the
most corrupt man is sensible of those."
"I too am sensible of them, Lucia."
"And you do recognize that you have wronged me."
"That I have, Lucia - not now, but before this."
"But then you surely want to make some amends, to somewhat mitigate the
blow - when it's so easy to do it. See I shall leave you absolutely
free. I shall not question you, not pry, not even make an allusion. But
do you then spare our family too. That is all I ask. Spare our children
this disgrace."
I was not prepared, and it is not easy when taking a critical step in
life to go just far enough and with neither half-heartedness nor
exaggeration. Therefore my answer was weak.
"Very well, dear friend," said I. "I shall as far as possible take
account of your desires."
Then we wished each other a good night, well knowing that we had
pronounced an idle wish.