human
Fortunately, Signor Marchese, the circumstances all point, in the present instance, in the direction we would wish. That is, added the lawyer, hastily,
gpt
God forbid that I should wish such a crime to be brought home to any human being, but in the interests of truth and justice; and of course our first object is that the Marchese Ludovico should be cleared.
human
Of course, of course. Why naturally, you know--But--in what direction--eh?--do the suspicions--that is, the opinions--you, yourself, Signor Giovacchino--who do you think now could have done the deed?
gpt
My notion is, said the lawyer, speaking strongly and distinctly,
human
The friar at St. Apollinare, said the Marchese, with blue trembling lips, as he looked keenly into the lawyer's face;
gpt
Impossible? why impossible, Signor Marchese? We know that he was in the Pineta much about the time the deed must have been done.
human
The friar in the Pineta!
gpt
You see; Signor Giovacchino, he continued, returning to his seat,
human
I have been so shaken by all the misery I have gone through, and all the sleepless nights I have passed, that--that--that I am hardly in a fit state to appreciate the value of the--the facts you lay before me. I have been trying to think--I am afraid--very much afraid for my own part that no weight is to be attributed to any testimony which may be got from the friar of St. Apollinare.
gpt
Why so, Signor Marchese?
human
I know the old man very well. I have often talked with him. He is not in his right mind: certainly not in such a state of mind as would justify the magistrates in paying any attention to his statements,
gpt
I spoke with the old man at some length the other day, and I cannot say that that was my impression at all. In my opinion he was quite enough in his senses to know how to withhold the information which, I suspect, he could give us if he would. May I ask, Signor Marchese, how long it is since you have spoken with him?
human
Oh! a long time. How could I speak to him, you know. I do not suppose he often comes into the city. And it is ever so long--a year or more--since I was out at St. Apollinare; as far as I can remember, said the Marchese, with a rapid sidelong glance at the lawyer;
gpt
he added, not without some vehemence;
human
Well, Signor Marchese, the tribunal will form its own opinion upon that point. For my own part, I cannot help feeling glad of any scrap of evidence which tends to corroborate the opinion that the Marchese Ludovico has been erroneously and precipitately accused.
gpt
Of course, Signor Giovacchino, of course. A chi lo dite! And I am truly obliged to you for coming to me with the news you have given me. But you can understand, perhaps--in part, Signor Giovacchino, in part--not altogether--what I have gone through in these days. My mind has been shaken--sadly shaken, amico mio. I shall never recover it--never,
human
Nay, Signor Marchese. I would fain hope it is not so bad as all that. Let this business of the trial be over, and the Marchese Ludovico, as I doubt not, entirely cleared and absolved, and all will yet go well. The rest is matter of sorrow which time may be trusted to heal.
gpt
The trial! Ay, the trial. When--eh?--when is it likely to come off, Signor Giovacchino. Yes, as you say, it would be a good thing if that were over,
human
It won't be long; there is little or no hope of any further light being thrown on the matter; some day next week, I should say; I don't think they will be longer than that; and the sooner the better--only, that I am afraid you may find the ordeal a disagreeable one.
gpt
Who? I? Why should I--? That is, of course, on Ludovico's account--
human
Excuse me, Signor Marchese; but you must feel, surely, that it will be absolutely necessary for you to be present in court.
gpt
I? I be present? Why, don't you see that I am unable to leave my chamber--shall probably never leave it again; how can I be present in court? It is out of the question.
human
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.
gpt
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--
human
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.
gpt
Of course, if Tomosarchi were, after visiting you by direction of the tribunal, to certify that you were not in a fit state--
human
I won't see Tomosarchi; 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.
gpt
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. The fact of your absence on such an occasion could not but be unpleasantly remarked on,
human
Why? What can I be wanted for? What can I tell them? It is very evident that I am, and must needs be, utterly ignorant of the whole matter,
gpt
There are various points on which the magistrates will, doubtless, wish for the information which your lordship can give them, although you may have no means of throwing any light on the main facts of the assassination. They will wish, for instance, to ask respecting the circumstances of the Marchese Ludovico's expedition to the Pineta. The police, you must remember, Signor Marchese, are already aware that you were cognizant of the Marchese Ludovico's intention of taking La Lalli to the Pineta. That has been ascertained from the admission of the Conte Leandro--
human
A thousand curses on the Conte Leandro,
gpt
His figure in the matter is a deplorable one, truly; but you can understand, Signor Marchese, that the court will desire to ask some questions of you on this head--nothing that you can have any difficulty in answering or any objection to answer; but I am sure you will see, on consideration, that it would have a very bad effect for your lordship to show the least desire to avoid being present.
human
It will be most distasteful to me--very painful, indeed--I don't think it ought to be required of me under all the circumstances,
gpt
Unpleasant it will be, doubtless; the whole affair has not been a pleasant one for anybody concerned in it, Signor Marchese--for any one in Ravenna, I may say. But you may depend upon it that it will be the wish of the court and of everybody present to make it as little painful to you as possible. And it is my very serious and very urgent advice to you to make the necessary exertion, and not to express to any one either the intention or the wish to absent yourself.