"I spoke with the old man at some length the other day, and I cannot
say that that was my impression at all. In my opinion he was quite
enough in his senses to know how to withhold the information which,
I suspect, he could give us if he would. May I ask, Signor Marchese,
how long it is since you have spoken with him?"
"Oh! a long time. How could I speak to him, you know. I do not
suppose he often comes into the city. And it is ever so long--a year
or more--since I was out at St. Apollinare; as far as I can
remember," said the Marchese, with a rapid sidelong glance at the
lawyer; "but I am convinced the old man is not in his right mind,"
he added, not without some vehemence; "and it is dangerous to put
any faith, or to build at all upon anything that such a person may
say. Why, he is always seeing visions; and what is such an one's
account worth of anything he may fancy himself to have seen."
"Well, Signor Marchese, the tribunal will form its own opinion upon
that point. For my own part, I cannot help feeling glad of any scrap
of evidence which tends to corroborate the opinion that the Marchese
Ludovico has been erroneously and precipitately accused."
"Of course, Signor Giovacchino, of course. A chi lo dite! And I am
truly obliged to you for coming to me with the news you have given
me.
Pages:
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628