# X: “As Things That Are Not Shall These Things Be” explained — The Venetians

> Chapter companion for The Venetians by M. E. Braddon.

## What happens

Vansittart finds a flat for Lisa and her aunt near Cheyne Walk, furnishes it, and establishes them in London under the name 'Smith' to conceal his identity. He visits them, enjoys their gratitude, and promises to find a singing-master for Lisa, while reflecting on his guilt and the sacrifice he is making.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Redemption

Vansittart seeks to atone for his past sins by providing for Lisa and her aunt, sacrificing a significant portion of his income as a form of penance.

### Secrecy and Identity

Vansittart conceals his true name, adopting 'Smith' to avoid revealing his connection to the Venetian tragedy, highlighting his need to maintain a separate identity.

## Character check-ins

### Jack Vansittart

Finds and furnishes a flat for Lisa and her aunt, using the alias 'Smith' to hide his identity. He feels a sense of duty and sacrifice, planning to give up two hundred a year for his conscience.

### Lisa Vivanti

Delighted with the new home and grateful to Vansittart. She is childlike and impulsive, pouting when he insists on calling her 'Madame Vivanti'.

### la Zia

Accompanies Lisa to the new flat, expresses heartfelt gratitude, and is impressed by the London sights.

### Fiordelisa

Vansittart refers to Lisa as Fiordelisa in his thoughts, remembering her from Venice. She is the same person as Lisa, but the alias is used in the narrative.

## Key lines

> He felt as if he had been furnishing a doll’s house for the occupation of a talking doll, so childishly simple did Lisa’s intellect seem to him.

Vansittart thought of the flat as a toy house for a simple-minded girl, reflecting his perception of Lisa's naivety.

_This shows Vansittart's condescending view of Lisa, seeing her as childlike and uncomplicated._

> Two hundred a year would he forfeit for his sin; and he contemplated the sacrifice with so much the more satisfaction because of his cordial liking for the impulsive peasant girl whose fate had become interwoven with his own.

He was willing to give up two hundred pounds annually as a penance, and he felt even better about it because he genuinely liked Lisa.

_This highlights his sense of guilt and his attempt to make amends, while also showing his affection for Lisa._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters/x-as-things-that-are-not-shall-these-things-be
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_venetians_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_venetians_se/chapters