In the first place, if you had had as much experience of monks, and
friars, and nuns, as I have, you would know that it is next to
impossible to induce them ever to give information to justice of any
facts which it is possible for them to conceal. It seems to them, I
fancy, like recognizing a lay authority in a manner they don't like.
They will communicate nothing to you if they can help it."
"Yes, that's true. I know that is the nature of them," assented the
lawyer.
"Then, observe, this Father Fabiano is a Venetian, a fellow-citizen
of the girl. You know how the Venetians hold together. You may feel
quite sure that if he did know her to be guilty of a crime, he would
screen her to the utmost of his power. Of course I have not done
with him yet. Tutt' altro. We must have an account of that morning
stroll in the Pineta from the old gentleman's own lips. Meantime, I
do not think that we need consider our trip to-day to have been
altogether thrown away."
"Very far from it. Very far from it, indeed. Honestly, I think that
you have hit the nail on the head, Signor Pietro. There is nothing
like the practical experience of you gentlemen of the police, who
pass your lives in playing at who-is-the-sharpest with the most
astute of human beings."
"And beating them at their own game," said the Commissary, self-
complacently.
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