If, on the other hand, the originals exist, they can be of no possible value to you, as you can send to Aquila and have fresh copies made whenever you please, as you yourself informed me." Things were taking a bad turn for Donna Tullia.

She believed the papers to be genuine, but a fearful doubt crossed her mind that Del Ferice might possibly have deceived her by having them manufactured.

Anybody could buy Government paper, and it would be but a simple matter to have a notary's seal engraved.

She was terrified at the idea, but there was no possibility of getting the documents back from the old Prince, who held them firmly in his broad brown hand.

There was nothing to be done but to face the situation out to the end and go.
"As you please," she said.