"I always say and think, for my part," continued the old woman,
perceiving that her companion sat silent, as if expecting her to
continue the conversation; "I always think that the blessed Virgin
knows what's best for us. Maybe it's just as well that that poor
miserable creature did as she did. For we all know what men are,
Signore Dottore; and there's no saying what hold she might have got
upon the Marchese."
"And no doubt that is the feeling of our young friend Signorina
Foscarelli?" said the sympathetic lawyer.
"To be sure,--to be sure it is," said the old woman, meaning to
credit Paolina with the piety she had understood herself to have
expressed; "she did take a mortal aversion and dislike to the woman,
and small blame to her. But now she is gone, Paolina is no more
likely to say anything against her than I am myself."
"Quite so, quite so. And I hope the magistrates may take the same
view of the circumstances, that you have so judiciously expressed,
Signora," said the lawyer, who was abundantly contented with the
result of his interview with the Signora Steno, as it stood, and did
not see any further necessity for prolonging it. "You may tell the
Contessa Violante, if you should see her, that I am much obliged to
her for having sent you to me," he added, as he rose to open the
door of his sanctum for the old lady; "Beppo, open the door for the
Signora Steno.
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