But because he could not guess right, and could get no news of Marcello, his eyes were growing hollow and his cheeks wan.
The lawyers came and talked about the will, and explained to him that all the great property was his, unless Marcello came back, and that in any case he was to administer it.

They said that if no news of the boy were obtained within a limited time, the law must take it for granted that he had perished in some unaccountable way.

Folco shook his head.
"He must be found," he said.

"I have good nerves, but if I do not find out what has become of him I shall go mad." The lawyers spoke of courage and patience, but a sickly smile twisted Folco's lips.
"Put yourself in my place, if you can," he answered.
The lawyers, who knew the value of the property to a farthing, wished they could, though if they had known also what was passing in his mind they might have hesitated to exchange their lot for his.
"He was like your own son," they said sympathetically.

"A wife and a son gone on the same day! It is a tragedy.