"
"Your lordship will pardon me, Signor Marchese, if I point out to
you that it is quite indispensable that you should appear in court
on the occasion of the trial," returned the lawyer, firmly. "Your
own excellent judgment, and sense of what is fitting and due to your
own position, will, I am sure, put this matter in an unmistakeable
light before you. Think a little what the inferences, the remarks,
the suggestions would be to which your absence on such an occasion
would give rise; not to mention that it can hardly be doubted that
the tribunal will think it necessary to examine your lordship
respecting certain points--"
"Me? What can I tell? What can it be necessary to examine me for? I
know absolutely nothing; it is impossible that I should know
anything of the matter; besides, I am too ill to leave my chamber."
"Of course, if Tomosarcbi were, after visiting you by direction of
the tribunal, to certify that you were not in a fit state--"
"I won't see Tomosarcbi; no testimony can be needed to the fact that
I am in no condition to leave the house; I tell you, Signor Fortini,
I will not see him; I cannot see anybody."
"I fear, Signor Marchese, that it would be impossible in any other
way to avoid complying with the request of the tribunal for your
presence. Besides that, it would be far better, in every point of
view, that you should show yourself in the court.
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