Apollinare on foot, and who had paused at
the gate for the purpose of making some inquiries of the officials
there.
"Good morning, Signor Pietro. I suppose we are bound for the same
place; will you permit me to offer you a seat in my carriage?" said
the lawyer.
"Thanks, Signor Giovacchino, I shall be glad of the lift. Yes, I
suppose we are about the same business, and a bad one it is. I was
making a few inquiries at the gate; but I don't see that there is
much to be gleaned there," said the Commissary, as he got into the
lawyer's carriage.
"Well, it seems to me that we have reaped a pretty good harvest
there already," returned the lawyer.
"Enough to make the matter one of the most puzzling I ever had to do
with," returned the Commissary. "You have heard, I suppose, that we
have arrested the girl Paolina Foscarelli, and the Conte Leandro
Lombardoni?"
"No; but it was a matter of course that you would do so--specially
the girl," said the lawyer.
"We could not avoid arresting the Conte also; it is so unaccountable
that he should have been going out of the city, and so near the
place of the crime."
"What account does he give of the matter himself?" asked the lawyer.
"No very clear one; and he seems to be frightened out of his senses;
but that proves nothing. One man takes a thing coolly, another is so
flushed that you would think he was guilty only to look at him; but
there is little to be judged from such appearances.
Pages:
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549