"What you have to do, my good friend, is simple enough," said the
lawyer, addressing the superior official at the gate; "you must, in
the first place, receive and take charge of the body. You must
inquire of these good folks all they have to tell you, together with
their names and addresses. You must draw up a processo verbale,
embodying all such information; and then you must have the body
conveyed to the mortuary at the hospital, at the same time making
your report to the police, and delivering up the body into their
custody. In such a case as this, it will be well, too, that these
worthy men, who have brought the body here, should go with you to
the police, the more so," he added, as his quick eye marked a
certain blank look in the faces of the men,--"the more so, as they
must be recompensed for their trouble and labour, and it is by the
police that the payment for it must be made."
"Un processo verbale! Yes, one knows that; but under circumstances
so strange--grazie a Dio so unheard of--if your worship would have
the kindness to put one in the way of it. Your worship is familiar
with affairs of all sorts. Just an instant."
"We must hear first what these men have to say. First take down
their names and addresses."
The men gave them, as the lawyer remarked to himself, with perfect
willingness and alacrity.
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