Filippo looked at me with quick surprise.
"He departed betimes this morning for his castle.

Why do you ask ?" I told him why I asked; I told him what I knew of Ramiro's attentions to Madonna, of the rejection they had suffered, and of the vengeance he had seemed to threaten.

Filippo heard me patiently, but when I had done he shook his head.
"Why, all being as you say, should he work so wanton a destruction ?" he asked stupidly, as if jealousy were not cause enough to drive an evil man to destroy that which he may not possess.

"Nay, nay, your wits are disordered.

You remember that he looked at Madonna whilst she drank, and you construe that into a proof that he had poisoned the cup she drank from.