You did not come to make your report to us here at once? I must
ask you how you have employed the interval?" said the magistrate
shooting a sharp glance from under his black eyebrows at Ludovico,
who was sitting opposite to him, with a little table between them,
on which there were writing-materials.
"In visiting a lady, to whom I was very anxious to tell these
unfortunate circumstances myself, instead of allowing them to come
to her ears in any other manner," answered Ludovico simply.
"The lady's name? I ask in confidence, you know; unless of course
the fact should turn out to have any bearing on the discovery of the
truth as to this most unhappy business."
"The lady is the Signorina Paolina Foscarelli, a Venetian artist
sent here to make copies of some of our mosaics, and recommended to
my uncle the Marchese Lamberto."
"With whom you had no acquaintance previous to her bringing that
recommendation?"
"None whatever."
"But since that time you have become intimate with her?"
"It is true."
"Signor Marchese, this is a most lamentable and unhappy affair. It
is my duty to point out to you, what doubtless your own good sense
has already suggested to you--that the mere facts, as you have
related them to me, place you in a very unfortunate position. But
most unhappily--it is exceedingly painful to me to have to say it--
there is, if what has already reached my ears be true, worse, much
worse behind.
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