Del Ferice was a very clever fellow.
He put on his coat, and in five minutes was seated in a cab on his way to Donna Tullia's house, with a large envelope full of papers in his pocket.
He found her as she had left him, her face still wrapped in a veil, walking up and down her drawing-room in great excitement.

He advanced and saluted her courteously, maintaining a dignified gravity of bearing which he judged fitting for the occasion.
"And now, my dear lady," he said, gently, "will you tell me exactly what you have done ?" "This morning," answered Madame Mayer, in a stifled voice, "I heard of the Astrardente's engagement to Don Giovanni.

It seemed such a terrible thing!" "Terrible, indeed," said Del Ferice, solemnly.
"I sent for you at once, to know what to do: they said you were gone to Naples.

I thought, of course, that you would approve if you were here, because we ought to prevent such a dreadful crime--of course." She waited for some sign of assent, but Del Ferice's pale face expressed nothing but a sort of grave reproach.
"And then," she continued, "as I could not find you, I thought it was best to act at once, and so I went to see the Astrardente, feeling that you would entirely support me.

There was a terrific scene.