But the worst is-
-the damning feature of the matter is, that he had a very strong and
intelligible reason for wishing this Bianca out of the way. Remember
that your marriage with her would have the effect of reducing him to
beggary. Put that fact side by side with the facts that he takes her
to a solitary place in the Pineta, and that she is shortly
afterwards found there murdered; and I am afraid--I am dreadfully
afraid that the judges will not resist the conclusion that, in
truth, seems forced upon them. It is a bad business, Signor
Marchese; a very bad and ugly business."
"But I had not mentioned to the Marchese Ludovico my intention with
regard to the girl. How could he have been led to do such an act by
such a motive, when he knew nothing of it?" said the Marchese, after
several minutes of consideration.
"Unfortunately he did know it, and has himself stated that he knew
it. It seems that the girl herself took the opportunity of their
drive together to tell him of the fact. Would to heaven that she had
never done so," said Fortini, with a deep sigh.
"But anybody must see that it is a thousand times more probable that
she should have been killed by robbers--vagabonds tramping through
the country. The Pineta is always full of them. I am sure I would no
more lie--I would no more wander there alone!--Of course the
unfortunate girl must have been murdered by brigands.
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