human
Good morning, Signor Pietro. I suppose we are bound for the same place; will you permit me to offer you a seat in my carriage?
gpt
Thanks, Signor Giovacchino, I shall be glad of the lift. Yes, I suppose we are about the same business, and a bad one it is. I was making a few inquiries at the gate; but I don't see that there is much to be gleaned there,
human
Well, it seems to me that we have reaped a pretty good harvest there already,
gpt
Enough to make the matter one of the most puzzling I ever had to do with, returned the Commissary.
human
You have heard, I suppose, that we have arrested the girl Paolina Foscarelli, and the Conte Leandro Lombardoni?
gpt
No; but it was a matter of course that you would do so--specially the girl,
human
We could not avoid arresting the Conte also; it is so unaccountable that he should have been going out of the city, and so near the place of the crime.
gpt
What account does he give of the matter himself?
human
No very clear one; and he seems to be frightened out of his senses; but that proves nothing. One man takes a thing coolly, another is so flushed that you would think he was guilty only to look at him; but there is little to be judged from such appearances. I don't much think the Conte had anything to do with it, for my part.
gpt
What were you asking about at the gate?
human
Well, I thought I would just ascertain if any other parties had passed the gate that same morning,
gpt
Others! Have we not enough to make a sufficient puzzle already?
human
Yes, indeed; but information is always useful. The men say that they are quite sure that no other person of any kind whatever passed the gate either outwards or inwards, during the night till the Conte Leandro passed in the morning; and then the girl not long afterwards; and then the Marchesino with the prima donna.
gpt
I think we shall find, Signor Pietro, that that girl has done it. There's nothing a jealous woman will not do. We shall find, I think, that to have been the case; that is, if we succeed in finding out anything at all. Perhaps the most likely thing is that we may never know what hand did the deed.
human
Oh, come, I hope better things than that. That would not suit our book at all. We must find it out if we can; and it is early days yet to talk of being beat. We are not half at the end of our means of investigation yet, Signor Giovacchino,
gpt
It may be that something may be to be picked up at the church here.
human
And then I must go on to the farm-house, where the Marchesino and the prima donna left their carriage.
gpt
We'll have a talk with the friars first.