The magistrate received him with grave courtesy, saying that he was
glad the Signor Marchese had presented himself in order to throw
what light he could on this sad affair, as rumour had already
reached his (the magistrate's) ears mixing the name of the Marchese
Ludovico with the subject in a manner that would have made it his
duty to call the Marchese, had he not of himself judged it right to
anticipate the action of justice in the matter.
Then Ludovico related clearly and shortly how the excursion to the
Pineta had been imagined and planned between him and Bianca at the
ball; how they had put their plan into execution; how he had left
her sleeping in the forest; and had been unable to find her again;
how he had returned, after spending much time in fruitless seeking,
and had shortly afterwards, being then in the company of Signor
Giovacchino Fortini, seen the dead body of the unfortunate lady
brought into the city by men who had discovered it in the forest.
The magistrate listened attentively to this history in silence, save
that he once or twice interrupted Ludovico to ask at what o'clock it
had been that the different incidents happened. Then he reduced the
whole statement to writing, and read it over to the Marchesino.
"Your lordship parted then from Signor Fortini, after witnessing in
his company the arrival of the corpse at the gate, nearly an hour
ago.
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