Note: this chapter was mislabeled as chapter 12 in the original text of The Italian.

When Vivaldi is finally released from the Inquisition, the marchese and Paulo celebrate at the Count di Maro’s palace. Paulo’s excitement and devotion to Vivaldi leads the marchese to grant him independence by rewarding him generously. Paulo, however, appears saddened, saying he wants to serve Vivaldi forever. Vivaldi promises to make him head of the household and manager of his servants.

When they return to Naples, the marchese informs Vivaldi of his continued opposition to a marriage with Ellena, given her relation to Schedoni. Nonetheless, he visits Ellena at her convent, where he provides an account of the preceding weeks while wishing to mitigate the circumstances surrounding Schedoni. He also learns of Ellena’s true parentage, realizing that Schedoni is not her father. As Olivia greets and converses with Vivaldi, she stipulates that she does not wish her daughter to marry into a family where a chief member is either insensible of her daughter ‘s value or unwilling to acknowledge it; the marchese must also approve.

The marchese thus conducts an investigation into Olivia’s background and circumstances before approving of the young lovers’ marriage, which takes place on Ellena’s eighteenth birthday.