human
I can make nothing out of that old friar, said the Police Commissary to his friend, as they sat in the private cabinet of the former;
gpt
What induced you to go out there to-day?
human
Why, I am very strongly persuaded--I feel sure almost--that that old fellow could tell something to the purpose if he would speak. And I am more convinced of it from his manner to-day than ever. The other animal--the lay-brother--I am pretty sure knows nothing about it.
gpt
Is the friar about again, or still in bed?
human
Oh, he's in bed safe enough; at least I found him there, shivering and shaking, and counting his beads, and answering a plain question with 'Ave Maria' and 'Ora pro nobis,' and the rest of it. I don't believe he has the fever a bit. I believe that he has been scared out of his wits by something he has seen. But the devil wouldn't get out of him what it was if he don't choose to tell you. Oh, I know them!
gpt
I suppose, said the lawyer, looking doubtfully into the Commissary's face,
human
I suppose it is not on the cards that the old fellow was the murderer himself?
gpt
Ha! said the Commissary, with a start,
human
he added, after a little consideration,--
gpt
In that case, I should have thought that means might have been found to make him speak,
human
What means? I profess I don't know any. The devil of it is, you see, Signor Giovacchino, that it will not do to treat those fellows roughly. There would be the deuce and all to pay. There he lies, shivering, and trembling, and muttering, and going on as if he was imbecile; and swearing he is too ill to leave his bed. I don't see how we are to get him here into court.
gpt
Well, I've had better luck this morning; and had not to go out to seek it. My witness came to me; and I think I have got some important evidence,
human
The deuce you have. There is a luck in those things. But if your evidence came to you--Who the devil would ever think of coming to a Commissary of Police as long as they could stay away, if they pleased.
gpt
Well, my witness was not altogether a willing one; or at least she came to me for the purpose of saying something very different from what she did say.
human
But you did not come here merely to boast, I am sure, Signor Giovacchino. You are going to tell me what you have been able to learn, eh?
gpt
Boast, no, not I! There's nothing to boast of. Besides, you know my interest in the matter is of a different nature from yours, Signor Pietro. All I want is to clear my friend and client, the Marchese Ludovico. You, of course, are anxious to bring the crime home to somebody.
human
True,
gpt
And of course, therefore, any light I can throw upon the matter, I am ready enough to bring to you, unless it were of a nature to incriminate the Marchese,
human
Of course, just so. And what you have learned this morning--
gpt
Tell's all t'other way; I have no difficulty in allowing that, on the first blush of the matter, I felt no doubt that the Marchese was the guilty party. It only shows that one ought always to have doubts of everything. It looked so very bad. The Marchese takes the girl into the wood, comes back without her, and very shortly afterwards she is found where he left her, murdered. And he is known to have had the greatest possible interest in getting rid of her. Would it not have seemed a clear case to any one?
human
So one would have said indeed,
gpt
Well, the Marchese had nothing to do with it. At the present moment I feel--well, hardly any doubt at all that the deed was done by the girl Paolina Foscarelli.
human
That's my notion too, said the Commissary, taking a pinch of snuff, and proferring his box to his visitor;
gpt
Well, the girl lives, it seems, with an old woman, a country-woman of hers, a certain Orsola Steno. And this morning the old lady comes to my studio for the avowed purpose of begging me not to countenance in any way the very mistaken notion that her adopted daughter had murdered the prima donna; the truth being, as she was good enough to inform me, that the latter had committed suicide.
human
Bah, what senseless nonsense!
gpt
Of course. I pointed out to the old lady that her theory was, according to the medical testimony, simply impossible; but that naturally made not the slightest difference in her opinion of the matter. And then, aided by a little gentle assistance, she prattled on, an old fool, admitting, or insisting rather, that there had been bitter hatred and animosity between Paolina and the murdered woman; that Paolina had conceived the bitterest jealousy of the singer; that she was persuaded that the latter was scheming with a set purpose to lure her acknowledged lover, the Marchese, away from her; that she was further persuaded that the singer nourished the bitterest hatred of her, Paolina. What do you say to that, Signor Commissary? How does the land lie now, eh?
human
Is not it the more likely story in every way? pursued the lawyer;
gpt
said the lawyer, in conclusion, tapping his fingers on the Commissary's coat-sleeve as he spoke,
human
How on earth could that old woman come to you with a budget of such damning facts against her friend? Do you think she--the old woman--has any guilty knowledge of the crime?
gpt
Lord bless you, no! If she had, she would not have been so simple. No, she firmly believes her own theory of the matter, that the poor Diva killed herself. She is too firmly persuaded of it to perceive the bearing of her admissions of the hatred that existed between the two girls.
human
I learned something yesterday, said the Commissary,
gpt
Admirably well. Clearly helps to give consistency and probability to our theory of the facts. I begin to think that all danger to my client is at an end, and, upon my word, I am more glad of it than I can tell you; it would have been a shocking thing. I am an old Ravenna man, you know, and should have felt it differently from what you would, you know.
human
True; but I am glad enough that the Marchese should be cleared in the matter, and so will the Government be--very glad.
gpt
I suppose there is no objection to my seeing the Marchesino?
human
Oh, certainly not the least in the world. It is a pity that he should be detained here any longer; but I am almost afraid to take the responsibility of discharging him before some formal inquiry has been made.
gpt
Naturally, naturally. When do you suppose you will be ready to bring the affair to a trial?
human
Oh, very soon. If there were any chance of getting that old frate into court it would be worth while to wait for him; but I am afraid that the longer we wait the worse his fever and ague will get. But I shall have another try at him out there first.
gpt
Signor Marchese, said the old man, stretching out his hand with, for him, a very unusual degree of impulsive cordiality,
human
I have come to make amende honorable--I need hardly say how delighted I am to do so. It is not only that I think I may say there is now very little chance of any mischief falling on you in consequence of that unlucky excursion to the Pineta, but that I am able, thank God, to say that I have myself no longer the smallest suspicion that you had any hand in the crime that has been committed there.
gpt
Has anything been discovered, then? asked Ludovico, eagerly.
human
Ah--h--h! that would be good news indeed,