When Donna Tullia quitted the Palazzo Astrardente her head swam.

She had utterly failed to do what she had expected; and from being the accuser, she felt that she was suddenly thrust into the position of the accused.
Instead of inspiring terror in Corona, and causing Giovanni the terrible humiliation she had supposed he would feel at the exposure of his previous marriage, she had been coldly told that she was mad, and that her pretended proofs were forgeries.

Though she herself felt no doubt whatever concerning the authenticity of the documents, it was very disappointing to find that the first mention of them produced no startling effect upon any one, least of all upon Giovanni himself.

The man, she thought, was a most accomplished villain; since he was capable of showing such hardened indifference to her accusation, he was capable also of thwarting her in her demonstration of their truth--and she trembled at the thought of what she saw.

Old Saracinesca was not a man to be trifled with, nor his son either: they were powerful, and would be revenged for the insult.