You do not remember,
probably, some curious details of a crime that was perpetrated a
year ago or more in the island of Sardinia. I don't know that the
details were published save in the medical journals. You know how
great an interest our unfortunate friend used to take in all such
matters. We talked over that curious case. He doubted the
possibility of causing death with so little violence, and by means
which should leave so little trace behind them. I showed him how
readily and easily it might be done. You may judge then, Signore
Dottore, of the misgivings that assailed me when I discovered how
that unhappy singer had been put to death. You will understand, too,
why he so absolutely refused to see me, and how little desirous I
was to see him."
"But, Signor Professore--what should you have done if--?"
"If that girl had been condemned. You may guess that my state of
mind has not been a pleasant one. I did not know what to do: I hoped
that no conviction would have been arrived at. Of course it would
have been impossible to keep silence while that poor girl suffered
the penalty of the crime I had such strong reason to think was the
work of another. Truly it is in all ways best as it is."
"You are taking it for granted that the tribunal will give credit to
the friar's testimony; but that is not certain; nay, it is not
certain--at least, we do not yet know--we have only his assertion
that he saw the Marchese do the deed.
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