"Signor Marchese," said the lawyer, with an impatient shake of the
head, "let us look at the matter from the opposite point of view. If
you had killed this woman, let us say, what would your conduct be?
Would you not, in that case, make exactly the assertions that you
now make? That is the terrible consideration that makes all
assertion valueless in the case of such suspicion. But, once again,
why dwell on my belief in the matter, which is nothing to the
purpose? I have put your position, whether you are guilty or not
guilty, clearly before your eyes. I counsel you, and strongly urge
you, while yet unaccused, to escape from the accusation, which will
be made against you within an hour. I am ready to assist you with
the means of escaping--"
"Signor Fortini, I cannot avail myself of them. I have made up my
mind I will not add another such damning ground of suspicion against
me. Here I will remain to answer, as best I can, all the accusations
that may be brought against me. I will not fly."
The old lawyer shook his head and sighed deeply.
"A bad business," he said, "a very bad business. It will kill the
Marchese Lamberto; and I won't say what I would not have given to
have escaped seeing your father's son, Signor Marchese, in the
position in which you stand."
"Will you carry your kindness yet one step further, Signor Fortini,
and, despite my rejection of your first advice, tell me what you
think I had better first do now immediately, I mean--on the
supposition that I am determined to remain in the city?"
"I think," said the lawyer, after a pause for consideration, "that
the best course for you to take in the case would be to go at once
to the magistrates and make your statement to them of the
circumstances according to your own version of the story,--stating
that you hastened to do so on seeing the dead body at the city gate;
I think that is the best thing you can do.
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