"
"You wish me to go to her at once?"
"Yes, if you would be so kind. What I am anxious for is that you
should see her before any order for her arrest shall have been
issued. But that is not all. I want you to see Fortini also. I want
you to ascertain from him how far it is possible or probable that
any suspicion may rest on Paolina in consequence of the facts which
are known; how far it is likely that any attempt may be made to set
up a case against her. And I want you to tell him that it will be
wholly and utterly vain to make any such attempt, that the result
would only be entirely to cripple my own defence. For you must
understand once for all, and make him understand once for all, that
rather than allow her to be convicted of a deed of which she is as
innocent as you are, I would confess myself to be the guilty party.
It shall not be, Manutoli, mark what I say, it shall not be, that
she shall be dragged to ruin and destruction by my misfortune, or
imprudence, call it what you will. Of this, of course, you will say
no word to her. But I beg you to leave no shade of a doubt as to my
settled purpose in this matter on the mind of Signor Fortini. It is
he, of course, who will have the duty of preparing and conducting my
defence; and it is essential that he should understand this rightly.
Will you do this for me?"
"Of course I will--this or anything else that I can do for you.
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