Corona looked eagerly into his eyes for
some news concerning the young girl. He took her hand and kissed
it.
"My darling--that you should have spent the night in such a place
as this!" he exclaimed.
"Never mind me. Is Faustina at liberty? Did you see the cardinal?"
"I saw him." Giovanni shook his head.
"And do you mean to say that he would not give the order at once?"
"Nothing would induce him to give it. The prefect got there before
me, and I was kept waiting half an hour while they talked the
matter over. The cardinal declared to me that he knew there had
been an enmity between Faustina and her father concerning her love
for Gouache--"
"Her love for Gouache!" repeated Corona slowly, looking into his
eyes. She could not help it. Giovanni turned pale and looked away
as he continued.
"Yes, and he said that the evidence was very strong, since no one
had been known to enter the house, and the servants were clearly
innocent--not one of them betrayed the slightest embarrassment."
"In other words, he believes that Faustina actually did it?"
"It looks like it," said Giovanni in a low voice.
"Giovanni!" she seized his arm. "Do you believe it, too?"
"I will believe whatever you tell me."
"She is as innocent as I!" cried Corona, her eyes blazing with
indignation.
Pages:
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540