The logic of the facts did most
unquestionably seem to make out a fatally strong case against him.
And it was difficult to judge--very difficult even for the shrewd
and practised lawyer to judge--whether the consciousness of crime,
or the horror of seeing by how terribly strong evidence the
suspicion of crime was brought home to him, were the cause of the
emotion he manifested.
Signor Fortini, again, with rapid and practised acuteness, ran over
all the circumstances in his mind; and his conclusion, unavoidable,
as he felt it, was that the Marchese must have done the deed. That
the criminal authorities would come to the same conclusion he could
not feel the smallest doubt.
"Good God! Signor Fortini, this is very dreadful! it is as new to my
mind--it comes upon me now for the first time, as much as if I had
not known the fact of her death. But I see it--I see it all; as you
put the matter now before me. What am I to do?--gracious heaven,
what am I to do?"
"I have already told you, what you have to do; the only thing that
you can do. You have time enough to make it quite safe, that you may
be across the frontier before any pursuit can overtake you. As for
pursuing you across the frontier, that can only be done
diplomatically, and of course by means which would leave you ample
time to quit Tuscany.
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