"
"If any robbery had been committed, there might be reason to hope
so, or at least ground for such theory. But, unfortunately, she had
exposed on her person valuables exceedingly tempting to a thief; but
they remained untouched."
At that moment there came a loud and hurried rapping at the door.
The Marchese started violently in his chair, and turned deadly pale;
another proof, if more were needed, of the degree in which his
nervous system had been shaken by the intelligence he had received,
coming, as it did, on the back of all that had previously
contributed to unhinge his mind. In the next instant, a servant put
his head into the room, saying that the Conte Leandro had returned,
and was urgent to be admitted to see the Marchese, declaring that he
had a very important communication to make to him.
"I cannot see him. I will not see him. I will see nobody. Signor
Fortini, would you have the kindness to let him understand that I am
not in a condition to see anybody?" said the Marchese, apparently
much agitated.
The lawyer stepped rapidly to the door, and at the stair-head found
the Conte Leandro, bursting with the news, which he had hoped to be
the first to communicate to the Marchese, and which, of course,
showed how wise and timely had been his own interference in telling
the Marchese of the proposed excursion of Ludovico, and how
disastrous had been the results of his not having paid due attention
to it.
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