human
I trust it may; I build much on the fact that there was no struggle. She was put to death by some means which scarcely allowed her time to wake from the sleep, returned the lawyer.
gpt
You are going, then, now, Signor Barone, to see this Paolina?
human
Yes; if I find her still up, which I suppose I shall, for it is not late,
gpt
Better be a little cautious in speaking to her, you know; best to avoid alarming her,
human
The express object of my visit to her is to prevent her from being alarmed,
gpt
Yes; but--what I mean is that--it would be desirable, you see, to lead her to speak. What we want now is to know exactly what she did and where she went after seeing the Marchesino and La Bianca in the bagarino together. Also to ascertain whether she was seen by anybody to do whatever she did or to go wherever it was she went. And, I think, that you might very probably learn this from her more effectually than I should. She would be more likely to be on her guard with me, you see.
human
I'll try what I can do; my real belief is that she is the guilty person,
gpt
To-morrow I will see what I can do at St. Apollinare. She cannot have been in the church without seeing and speaking to somebody. There are a Capucin and a lay-brother always there, I take it; we shall see what they can tell us. But I can't go out there till after the medical examination. I have arranged with my old friend Tomosarchi to be present at it,
human
I shall be most anxious to hear the result,
gpt
If you will be here about ten o'clock--my breakfast hour--I shall be able to tell you.
human
Thanks. A rivederci dunque--
gpt
Stay; one more word before you go, Signor Barone. As we are both engaged in this inquiry, and both interested on the same side, I may as well tell you, perhaps, that there is one other person to whom my attention has been drawn as being open to suspicion in this matter--the Conte Leandro Lombardoni.
human
The Conte Leandro! You don't say so! Impossible!
gpt
Just listen one moment, Signor Barone. It is certain that the Conte Leandro passed out of the city by the Porta Nuova at a very early hour this morning--at an earlier hour than either the girl Paolina or the Marchesino and La Bianca.
human
The Conte Leandro--out of the Porta Nuova--at such an hour in the morning. For what possible purpose?
gpt
Ay, that is the question. For what possible purpose? But the fact is certain. Though endeavouring to conceal himself by means of his cloak, he was perfectly well recognized by the men at the gate. For what possible purpose? No doubt you know, Signor Barone, much better than I, who am not much in the way of hearing of such things--unless in cases where I make it my business to hear of them, you understand, Signor Barone,--you, no doubt, know that the Signor Conte has been besieging, as I may say, this poor Lalli woman with his attentions and verses ever since she came here; also, that the lady would have nothing to say to him or to his verses--that she has, in short, snubbed him and mortified his vanity in the sight of all the town during the whole of the past Carnival.
human
That is true--it is all true, cried Manutoli, eagerly, and looking almost scared by the ideas the lawyer was presenting to his mind.
gpt
It is even truer, than you, perhaps, are aware of. She said sneering and cutting things of him in his hearing both at the Marchese Lamberto's ball and at the Circolo ball; I happen to know it.
human
Hey--y--y--y? said the lawyer, uttering a sound like a long sigh, with a question stop at the end of it; and then thrusting out his lips and nodding his head up and down slowly while he plunged his hands into the pockets of his trowsers.
gpt
I'll tell you what it is Signor Barone, the old man added, after a pause of deep thought,
human
I was anxious to find such plausible grounds of suspicion against other parties, such element of doubt, such possibilities as might make it difficult for the judges to condemn our friend. I wanted to puzzle the court; but, per Bacco! I have puzzled myself. This afternoon, I confess to you, I had little doubt but that the Marchesino had, in a fatal moment of anger and desperation, committed the crime. But, upon my word now, I know not what to think. Here we have three parties, each of whom we know to have been acted on by one of three strong passions. We have jealousy, and wounded vanity. Which of the three has done the deed?
gpt
It is an extraordinary circumstance, said the Baron Manutoli,
human
One of the vainest men I ever met with,
gpt
Oh--for vanity--I believe you. Leandro has not his equal for vanity.
human
And strong vanity, deeply wounded, by a woman too, will breed a hate as violent and vicious, perhaps, as any passion that ever prompted a crime, rejoined the lawyer, still meditating deeply.
gpt
Per Dio Santo! he exclaimed, after a pause of silence, striking his open palm strongly on the table, as he spoke, and speaking with a sort of solemn earnestness,
human
I am inclined to think, after all, that he is the man. The Marchesino, he went on again, thoughtfully,
gpt
I still think that the Venetian girl has done the deed, said Manutoli, whose opinion was no doubt in some degree warped by his desire that the criminal should turn out to be a foreign plebeian rather than a Ravenna noble.
human
After all Leandro is not the man to do such a deed. He is such a poor creature. Besides, it seems to me that the girl's motive for hate was the stronger. I don't know that wounded vanity has had many such crimes to answer for, whereas jealousy--and such a jealousy--why, it is an old story you know.
gpt
Well, we shall see. Any way, I am very much more easy as to the result. Short of such evidence as it seems very highly unlikely should be forthcoming, I do not think that there can be any conviction at all. It is most extraordinary that in the case of such deed, done in such a place, at such a time, there should be so many persons so fairly liable to strong suspicion.
human
Of course, to produce the result we wish, a case must be set up against Leandro?
gpt
Of course. Leave that to me, or rather to the police. No doubt their inquiries have already put them on his track. The fact of his having gone out of the city by that gate, at that hour, is quite enough.
human
And now I must be off to see this Signorina Foscarelli. I don't half like the job.
gpt
I daresay you will find her easy enough, said the lawyer, not quite understanding the nature of Manutoli's distaste for his errand.
human
Good-night, Signor Barone.