“Surely that is the most likely.  Had any robbery been committed?” asked Paolina thoughtfully.

“None—­none whatever; and she had valuables exposed on her person which were untouched.  This is one of the worst circumstances against me; as it excludes the idea of the dead having been done by common malefactors for the sake of plunder.”

“And no marks of violence?  It must have been a natural death; such things do happen.  I remember hearing of a case-”

“I must go, darling; I must leave you.  I must hasten to the Palazzo del Governo to make my statement of what has occurred.  It is hard to leave you, my Paolina—­very hard to leave you, not knowing when or under what circumstances I am likely to see you again.”

“Ludovico, see me again!” shrieked the girl, as a new and dreadful idea presented itself for the first time to her mind; “why—­you will come to me when you have spoken to the magistrates; you will tell me what they say.”

“I fear me, Paolina, that it will not be in my power to do that,” returned Ludovico, with a melancholy smile.  “Should they leave me at liberty, of course I shall fly to you on the instant they dismiss me.  But, you must not expect that, my love.  I shall be detained doubtless, until—­until the truth has been discovered respecting this horrible tragedy.  One kiss my own, own darling before we part.”

She sprang into his opened arms with a bound; almost before the words had quitted his lips, and clasped him to her heart with all the strength she could exert.  Then drawing herself a little back, and placing her two little hands on the front of his shoulders; she said, speaking with breathless hurry,—­

“See now, my love, my only love.  You must remember all the time, that there is no hour of the day or night that I shall not be thinking of you, and loving you all the time, always, always.  And remember, that if all the whole world says that you did this thing, I shall still know that it was as impossible as that I did it myself.  Remember that always, my best beloved.”

“Thanks, my Paolina; it will be very sweet to me to remember it.  And dearest, one thing more.  It will hardly be likely that in the present circumstances, under all this weight of misfortune, my poor uncle will be likely to have time or attention to give to you, But if you have need of anything—­of advice, of assistance, of protection—­speak to the Contessa Violante, and—­stay, you shall take a message to her from me.  Tell her that I begged you to say, as from me to her, that in the teeth of all appearances I am innocent in thought, word, and deed in this matter.  I think she will believe it; I must go, my love, my own!”

“Pray God, it be not for long, tesoro mio.  I shall pray to the Holy Virgin for you morning and night.”

“Addio, Paolina mia.  Yet one kiss, anima mia, addio,”

From the Strada di Santa Eufemia Ludovico hurried as quickly as he could to the Palazzo del Governo; but found that he was not in time to be the first bearer to the police magistrate of the tidings of what had happened.  The report of the officials at the gate had already been given in, and the police had already taken possession of the body.