But this I do assure you: no torture could make me tell you what I do not know, nor is any torture needed to extract from me such information as I may be possessed of.

I do but beg that you wilt frankly question me upon this matter, whatever it may be, and your Excellency shall be answered to the best of my knowledge." He looked at me as if taken aback a little by my assurance and the seemingly transparent candour of my speech, and in his face I saw that he believed me.

A moment he hesitated yet; then-- "I am seeking knowledge concerning Madonna Paolo di Santafior," he said presently, resuming, as he spoke, his seat at table.

"As I told you, the body, which was believed to be dead, was stolen in the night from San Domenico.

Know you aught of this ?" It may be an ignoble thing to lie, but with what other weapon was I to fight this brigand?
Surely if an exception can be made to the rule, and a lie become a meritorious thing, such an occasion as this would surely justify such an exception.
"I know nothing," I answered boldly, unhesitatingly, and even with a ring of truth and sincerity that was calculated to convince, "nor can I even believe this rumour.