There was, it was true, nothing improbable in the story told by the
Marchese Ludovico. That the girl should have been overpowered by
sleep, after having passed the night at the ball, and then started
on an expedition so foreign to her usual habits, was abundantly
likely. That he might have become tired of sitting still while she
slept, and might have strayed away from her, not intending to quit
her for more than a few minutes and a few yards, was also perfectly
probable. That having so strayed he might have been unable to find
his way back again to the spot where he had left her, or to be
certain whether he had found the same spot or not, would not seem at
all unlikely to any one acquainted with the Pineta. All this story
was likely and natural enough.
But--the motive--the inevitable inference from that terrible cui
bono question. For whom was it profitable, that this poor girl
should be put to death? According to the fatal information, which,
by his own account, he had received but a short time previously from
the victim herself, information, the truth and accuracy of which
were well known to the lawyer from the Marchese Lamberto himself,
the whole future prospects in life of the Marchese Ludovico depended
on the life or death of this unhappy woman.
If the Marchese Lamberto carried out his insane intention of
marrying La Bianca Lalli his nephew would become simply destitute.
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