"Marchese, how can anybody have any doubt on the matter. Alas, that
I should have to say so, it is too self-evident. You persuade this
poor creature to go out alone with you into the Pineta at an
extraordinary hour of the morning, knowing then,--or according to
your own showing, becoming aware soon after you started--that it was
your uncle's intention by a marriage with this woman to destroy
utterly every prospect you have in the world. What other human being
can have had any ill-will against this woman, or any interest in
destroying her? Your interest in doing so is of the very strongest
possible kind. It was no case of robbery. The girl was put to death
by some one, who had an interest in doing so. She is last seen alive
with you; I find you with a singularly scared and troubled manner
pretending to make inquiry respecting her, your real object
evidently being to ascertain whether the fact of the murder were yet
known, and to give rise to the impression that you knew nothing of
the poor woman's fate. Then, when confronted with the corpse you are
seen to be absolutely overcome by your emotion. Now, as I have
simply stated the facts, do you imagine that a moment's doubt will
be felt as to who has done this deed?"
Ludovico felt the cold sweat break out on his forehead, as he
listened to the lawyer's words.
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