He had only to sacrifice
himself to set free for ever the woman he loved, and he had not
hesitated a moment in the accomplishment of his purpose. But the
revulsion of feeling, when he discovered that Faustina was already
known to be innocent, and that there was no need for his
intervention, was almost more than he could bear. The tears of joy
stood in his eyes while he tried to be calm.
"Have you any suspicions?" asked the cardinal again, in his gentle
voice.
"None, Eminence. The only thing approaching to a quarrel, of which
I have heard, is the suit about the title of the Saracinesca. But
of course that can have nothing to do with the matter. It was
decided yesterday without opposition."
"It could have nothing to do with the murder, you think?" inquired
the statesman with an air of interest.
"No. How could it?" Gouache laughed at the idea. "The Saracinesca
could not murder their enemies as they used to do five hundred
years ago. Besides, your Eminence has got the murderer and must be
able to guess better than I what were the incentives to the
crime."
"That does not follow, my friend. A man who confesses a misdeed is
not bound to incriminate any one else, and a man whose conscience
is sensitive enough to make him surrender himself naturally
assumes the blame.
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