Why naturally, you know--But--in what
direction--eh?--do the suspicions--that is, the opinions--you,
yourself, Signor Giovacchino--who do you think now could have done
the deed?" said the Marchese, finishing his sentence with an
apparent effort.
"My notion is," said the lawyer, speaking strongly and distinctly,
"that the murder was committed by the Venetian girl, Paolina
Foscarelli. You are aware of the circumstances that first directed
suspicion towards her. Alone they are very strong; but some other
little matters have come out. She has now been examined several
times; and the account she gives of the hours that passed between
the time she left the church of St. Apollinare, and the time when
she was first seen afterwards is a very lame and unsatisfactory one.
Then, my friend, Signor Logarini, of the police, who has been most
praiseworthily active in the matter, has discovered that the old
friar, who has the charge of the Basilica, and who is a Venetian,
was connected with the parents of this girl, which renders it
extremely probable that he may wish to screen her; and that fact,
taken in conjunction with the very strong reasons we have to think
that the friar has some knowledge of the deed, and his very manifest
reluctance to tell what he knows, seems to point in the same
direction."
"The friar at St.
Pages:
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626