With these evidences before
us," continued the lawyer, "we can hardly doubt that the fact was
so. But stay--what is this?--a letter addressed to me--'Al Chiarmo
Signor Dottore Giovacchino Fortini. To be opened only after my
death, and in case my death shall happen within one year from the
present time!' Perhaps this may render any further doubts as to the
conduct we ought to pursue unnecessary. Let us see."
And Signor Fortini sat down to open and read the packet; while the
Professor returned to the bed on which the dead man was lying, and
occupied himself with paying the last duties to his friend's
remains.
The letter was a very long one, consisting of several sheets of
closely-written paper. It is unnecessary to add to these pages by
giving a transcript of it, because the facts which it detailed at
length are either such as the reader is already acquainted with or
such as he can readily imagine for himself.
When the narrative reached the events which had occurred at the ball
in the early hours of the Ash Wednesday morning, after mentioning
the circumstance of the information which had been conveyed to the
writer by the Conte Leandro Lombardoni as to the projected
expedition to the Pineta, the Marchese went on to describe the state
of mind in which he had left the Circolo. He protested that,
although every smallest detail of what he did had remained stamped
on his memory with a vivid clearness that would never more be
obliterated, it would be unjust to judge his conduct as that of a
man in the possession of his senses.
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