These were the three hypotheses between which the possibilities of
the case seemed to lie to those whose position or means of
information gave them any real knowledge of the facts. But there was
a section of the outside public which had set up for itself and
preferred yet a fourth theory--namely, that the prima donna had
committed suicide. The holders of this opinion were mainly women;
and at the head of them; was the Signora Orsola Steno. In an agony
of grief, indignation, and despair at the accusation brought against
her adopted child, and the arrest by which it had been followed up,
she loudly maintained her own conviction that the evil and wicked
woman had brought her career to a fitting close by putting herself
to death.
"Likely enough she may have endeavoured to entrap the Marchese
Lamberto; but not very likely," old Orsola thought, "that that
exemplary nobleman should have been caught by her wiles. Likely
enough she may have plotted to play her last card, by giving the
Marchese Ludovico to understand, that the only way to avoid the ruin
which would fall upon him by her becoming his uncle's wife, was to
take her himself. How any such overtures would be received by the
noble Marchese Ludovico, all Ravenna ought to know; and at all
events she, Orsola Steno, knew surely enough. And upon that rebuff,
and utter failure of her last hope despair had come upon the
wretched creature, as well it might, and she had put an end to
herself.
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