“I will make no pretence at not understanding your question, Signor, nor any attempt to conceal the truth.  I have already stated the facts; or that, which you have evidently heard, could not have reached your ears.  The Signorina Bianca Lalli confided to me the fact, that my uncle the Marchese Lamberto had offered marriage to her.”

“Most lamentable, and to be regretted in every way,” said the magistrate, gravely shaking his head.  “You perceive, Signor Marchese, the terrible, but inevitable suggestion, that arises from the fact of your having been made aware of a purpose so disastrous to your interests?”

“I call your attention, Signor, again to the fact, that nothing would have been known of any such communication having been made to me, had I not spontaneously mentioned the circumstance myself.”

“It is true, Signor Marchese, and it will not be forgotten that this circumstance was spontaneously mentioned by you.  But you must observe, that the fact of the proposal made by the Marchese Lamberto would have become known in more ways than one.  And unhappily the fact that such a proposal had been made, would throw a very disagreeable light on the extraordinary circumstances of this death.  To whom would the death of this unfortunate woman be profitable?  That is the fatal question, Signor Marchese, which it is impossible to avoid asking.”

“I am aware of the cruelty of the inference suggested by the circumstance, Signor Commissario,” said Ludovico sadly.

“Have you any suggestion to offer yourself as to the possible means by which this woman may have met with her death?” asked the Commissary of Police.

“As far as I could see at the city gate, and according to the statement of the men who found the body, there was no indication of violence whatever to be found on it.  My suggestion therefore, and my trust is, that the cause of her death was a natural one:” 

“That will be a question for the medical authorities to decide,” said the Commissary.

“I was about to ask you whether they had proceeded to any examination yet?” said Ludovico.

“Not yet; we shall have the report immediately; and it shall be at once communicated to you.”

“At the Palazzo Castelmare?” said Ludovico, though he had but very little hope that he should be allowed to remain at large.

The Commissary shook his head very gravely.

“I need hardly tell you, Signor Marchese, how painful it is to me to be compelled to announce to you that we cannot find it consistent with our duty to allow you under the circumstances to quit this building.  The utmost that can be done to make your detention as little uncomfortable to you as possible, shall be done.  And I can only say that I trust it may be but for a short time.”

“Permit me to observe, Signor Commissario, that after seeing the dead body at the gate, to say nothing of all the hours previously, if I had been guilty,—­I had abundance of time to escape, and to place myself beyond the reach of the Papal authorities, before I could have been overtaken.  I might have done so, but did not.  Might not that be held to justify you in allowing me to retain my liberty until the course of your inquiries may again require my presence?”