CHAPTER XIV. FROM MARLOW TO ITALY 351

The Hunts and the Shelleys--Their Intimacy--Pecuniary Difficulties--Dealings with Money-lenders--Leigh Hunt relieves Shelley of £1400--His Testimony to Shelley’s virtuous Manners--Shelley’s Benevolence at Marlow--At the Opera--Departure for Italy--The fated Children--Shelley’s literary Work and studious Life in Italy--Milan--Allegra sent to her Father--Elise the Swiss Nurse--Her Knowledge and Suspicions--Claire and her ‘Sister’--Their Affectionate Intercourse and Occasional Quarrels--Shelley’s Affection for Claire--Vagrants in Italy--Pisa--Leghorn--Maria Gisborne--Her Husband and Son--Claire and Shelley at Venice--Trick played on Byron--His Civilities to the Shelleys--Little Clara’s Death--Paolo the Knave--He falls in Love with Elise--Their Marriage--Paolo’s Wrath and Vengeance--Emilia Viviani-- Shelley’s Adoration of Her--The three-cornered Flirtation-- Mrs. Shelley’s Attitude and Action--Shelley’s Fault in the Affair--His subsequent Shame at the Business--The imaginary Assault at the Pisan Post Office.