Romola Chapter 9 - A Man's Ransom

In which Tito, buoyed by youthful prospects and the warmth of promising friendships, finds himself at a crossroad between advancing his own fortune and fulfilling a painful obligation to a possibly enslaved benefactor. The episode delicately traces his inward struggle with duty and self-interest, revealing that the self-deception we harbour often strikes deepest beneath the surface of conscience.