For Ludovico, who had raised the sheet that covered the
features of the dead, and had, of course, become on the instant
aware of the truth, had fallen into unconsciousness, without
uttering a word beyond the one agonized outcry that, for the moment,
had left little doubt on the mind of the lawyer that the victim at
their feet was the girl Paolina.
But, of course, the means of setting at rest the doubt on the
lawyer's mind were very soon at hand; at hand even before Ludovico
recovered from his short fainting fit. For the same man among the
Octroi officers, who had recognized La Lalli when she had passed
with Ludovico in the morning, was now able to say that the woman who
now lay dead in the gateway was in truth no other than the poor
Diva.
Paolina, in fact, was by that time safe at home, and had been well
scolded by Signora Orsola for having given her such a fright by
playing the truant for so long.
Of course her old friend called upon her for an account of the hours
which had elapsed during her prolonged absence. And Paolina, in
reply to this demand, gave a very intelligible account of the time.
But unfortunately, most unfortunately, as the sequel showed it to
be, this account rested solely on her own statement. Of course old
Orsola saw not the smallest reason for doubting any part of it.
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