“That is your statement—­”

“And you must remember, Signor Fortini, that I made that statement to you before I knew anything of her death.”

“Before you knew anything of her death.  Pshaw!  You are assuming your innocence of the deed.  Yes, I remember what you said.  I remember only too well.  Had you not spoken to me, there might have been no proof that you knew anything at all of your uncle’s purpose.  I wish to heaven you had not said a word to me on the subject.  I shall have to testify that you declared to me, that your uncle’s offer to her had been communicated to you by her.  It will be impossible to avoid that.  And it will be impossible to persuade the magistrate that you had not previous knowledge of such a purpose from other sources.”

“But why should any such intended offer on the part of my uncle be ever heard of at all?” urged Ludovico.  “He will most assuredly never be willing to speak of it, and—­”

“Che!  As if that old man, her so-called father, will not be open-mouthed as to that—­as if he would not proclaim it to the whole city.  Ah—­h—­h! it is a bad business, Signor Marchese, a bad business.

“And is it possible, Signor Fortini, that you do really in your own heart believe me to be guilty of this deed?” said Ludovico, with a sigh that was almost a groan, and looking steadily and wistfully into the eyes of his companion.

“What is more to the purpose, unfortunately, is that it does not signify a straw whether I believe it or not.  You will not be judged, Signor Marchese, by my belief; and I am very sure what those who have to judge you will believe.  I have some experience of these matters.  I know the courts.  I see the exceeding difficulty of believing anything else as to this death than that it was done by your hands; by you, who had the opportunity and the motive, whereas, it is impossible to suggest any semblance of such motive on the part of any other human being; by you, in whose company she was last seen alive.  She had valuable ornaments about her person.  If you had removed them it would, at least, have left it open to the magistrates to attribute the deed to another motive, and to other hands.  I see all this.  I see the whole case before me; and, I tell you, that your only chance is to escape while it is yet time.”

“My solemn assertion, then, produces no effect on your mind, Signor Fortini?” said Ludovico, looking at him steadily.

“Signor Marchese,” said the lawyer, with an impatient shake of the head, “let us look at the matter from the opposite point of view.  If you had killed this woman, let us say, what would your conduct be?  Would you not, in that case, make exactly the assertions that you now make?  That is the terrible consideration that makes all assertion valueless in the case of such suspicion.  But, once again, why dwell on my belief in the matter, which is nothing to the purpose?  I have put your position, whether you are guilty or not guilty, clearly before your eyes.  I counsel you, and strongly urge you, while yet unaccused, to escape from the accusation, which will be made against you within an hour.  I am ready to assist you with the means of escaping—­”