For he knew that she would find it hard to believe him.
She listened; and as he went on, describing the struggle in poor Bosio's heart between the desire to save the woman he loved and the horror of sacrificing Veronica as a means to that end, she leaned forward again, drawing nearer to him, and watching his face keenly.

Her eyes were wide, and her lips parted a little; for whether true or not, the story was terrible as he told it, and as he had said that it would be.
"I do not know what he said to you last night," he concluded.

"I give you a dead man's words, as he spoke them to me; but I have no right to those he spoke to you.

This is true, that I have told you, as I hope for forgiveness of my own sins.

If you stay in this house, by the truth of God, I believe that your life is not safe." "You believe it, I am sure," said Veronica.