human
If the Senator can keep it all for himself, he will, Malipieri observed,
gpt
Do you think this had anything to do with their anxiety to have me stay with them?
human
The Baroness knows nothing at all about the matter, answered Malipieri.
gpt
I fancy she only wanted the social glory of taking charge of you when your people came to grief. But her husband will take advantage of the obligation you are under. I suspect that he will ask you to sign a paper of some sort, very vaguely drawn up, but legally binding, by which you will make over to him all claim whatever on your father's estate.
human
But I have none, have I?
gpt
If the facts were known to-morrow, your brother might at once begin an action to recover, on the equitable ground that by an extraordinary chain of circumstances the property has turned out to be worth much more than any one could have expected. Do you understand?
human
Yes. Go on.
gpt
Very well. The Senator knows that in all probability the court would decide against your brother, who has the reputation of a spendthrift, unless your claim is pushed; but that any honest judge, if it were legally possible, would do his best to award you something. If you had made over your claim to Volterra, that would be impossible, and would only strengthen his case.
human
I see, said Sabina.
gpt
It is very complicated.
human
Of course it is. And there are many other sides to it. The Senator, on his part, is as anxious to keep the whole matter a secret as I am, for your sake. He has no idea that there is a colossal statue in the vaults. He probably hopes to find gold and jewels which could be taken away quietly and disposed of without the knowledge of the government.
gpt
What has the government to do with it?
human
It has all sorts of claims on such discoveries, and especially on works of art. It reserves the right to buy them from the owners at a valuation, if they are sold at all.
gpt
Then the government will buy this statue, I suppose.
human
In the end, unless it allows the Vatican to buy it.
gpt
I do not see what is going to happen,
human
The Senator must make everything over to you before it is sold,
gpt
How can he be made to do that?
human
I do not know, but he shall.
gpt
Do you mean that the law can force him to?
human
The law might, perhaps, but I shall find some much shorter way.
gpt
But he employs you on this work,
human
Not exactly. Malipieri smiled.
gpt
I would not let Volterra pay me to grub underground for his benefit, any more than I would live in his house without paying him rent.
human
I agreed to make the search merely because I am interested in archaeology, he continued.
gpt
Until I met you I did not care what might become of anything we found in the palace.
human
Why should you care now?