The utmost that can be done to make your detention as
little uncomfortable to you as possible, shall be done. And I can
only say that I trust it may be but for a short time."
"Permit me to observe, Signor Commissario, that after seeing the
dead body at the gate, to say nothing of all the hours previously,
if I had been guilty,--I had abundance of time to escape, and to
place myself beyond the reach of the Papal authorities, before I
could have been overtaken. I might have done so, but did not. Might
not that be held to justify you in allowing me to retain my liberty
until the course of your inquiries may again require my presence?"
"I fear not, Signor Marchese, I fear not. The fact that such a crime
has been committed throws a terrible responsibility upon us. As to
your not having availed yourself of opportunity to escape, I may
remark that you may have been detained, not so much by your desire
of meeting inquiry, as of having the interview, of which you told me
just now. You say that you came directly from the Signorina
Foscarelli's dwelling hither. At that time it was too late for hope
of escape. I fear, Signor Marchese, it will not be consistent with
my duty to allow you to depart."
So Ludovico was conducted to a very sufficiently comfortable chamber
reserved for similar occasions, and found himself a prisoner,
waiting trial on suspicion of murder.
Pages:
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457