"Signora Orsola Steno," he said, as he half rose, and courteously
offered his visitor a seat by the side of the table, so placed as to
be fronting his own, while the sitter in it was exactly in a line
between him and the window.
"Sua Signoria mi conosce. Your lordship knows me, then," said the
old woman, whose surprise at finding herself thus recognized
sufficed to put altogether out of her head all the carefully
arranged opening of her interview with the lawyer which she had
taken much pains to prepare.
Signor Fortini had, in truth, never seen the old woman, and had
scarcely ever heard of her before the terrible event, which was now
bringing her into his presence. But her name, the nature of her
connection with Paolina, and very many other particulars concerning
her had become known to the lawyer in the course of the
investigations which that event had imposed upon him.
"Sufficiently, Signora, though I never had the pleasure of speaking
to you before, to be aware of the nature of the business which has
induced you to favour me with this visit," replied the lawyer, with
grave courtesy.
"Well, then, Signor Dottore, I hope you will excuse--"
"There is not the smallest need for any apology, Signora. Anzi--I am
very glad that you should have thought it well to call on me; I
shall be most happy to hear anything that you may wish to say to
me.
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