His plot with Dolfo Spini for placing the great Monk-prophet in the hands
of his enemies, has no darker motive than the getting out of the way an
indirect obstacle to his own advancement, and a man whose labours tend to
make life harder and more serious for all who come under his influence.
Bernardo del Nero, with his stainless honour, has from the first taken up
an attitude of tacit revulsion toward him; but there is no revenge
prompting the part he plays towards the noble, true-hearted old man. He
would rather that he and his fellow-victims were saved, if his own safety
and ultimate gain could be secured otherwise than through their betrayal
and death. There is no hardness or cruelty in him, save when its
transient displays toward Romola are necessary for furthering some
present end: he never indulges in the luxury of unnecessary and
unprofitable sins. The sharp, steadfast, unwavering consistency of Tito
is even more marked than that of Romola, for twice Romola falters, and
turns to flee. The supple, flexible Greek follows out the law he has
laid down as the law of his life,--worships the god he has set up as the
god of his worship with an inexorable constancy that never for one chance
moment falters.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71