The young Contessa was, doubtless as ignorant of all such
matters as old Orsola could be. Her education had been entirely
conventual, and those who dwell in the inner sanctums and fortresses
of the Church have a curiously instinctive aversion to the
certainties and investigations of medical--especially of surgical--
science; and the Contessa Violante was, perhaps, hence prepared to
vilipend and set at naught the dicta of the scientific authorities.
It was likely that her mind was also warped by the conceptions of
what were probable, likely to be providential, and even suitable, in
the case of such a person as the deceased singer. Of course, the
whole life of such an one was, to the Contessa Violante, a thing
abominable and accursed in the eyes of Heaven. It was more strange
that all others, who led similar lives, and were engaged in such a
profession, should not make an evil end of themselves than that one
such should do so.
The Contessa Violante, therefore, was disposed to share the
conviction of her visitor, as she most sincerely and cordially
sympathised with her in her affliction. To her, also, it was wholly
impossible to believe that Paolina had done this thing; nor was it
credible to her that Ludovico should be guilty of such a deed. Of
the three persons accused she would have found it more possible to
believe in the guilt of the Conte Leandro; but, on the whole, she
preferred to avoid the necessity of assuming that either of the
accused were guilty by admitting the hypothesis of Signora Orsola.
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