The groom who always went down with the carriage could describe with greatest accuracy the spot where the Signorina Aurora had last seen him; the house servants gave the most minute details about the cane chair, the verandah, and the position in which the poor lady had been found; but that was all, and it was not at all what the reporters wanted.

They had all been down to the cottage, each with his camera and note-book, and had photographed everything in sight, including Nino, Ercole's dog.

What they wanted was a clue, a story, a scandal if possible, and they found nothing of the sort.
Folco Corbario's mourning was unostentatious and quiet, but none of the few persons who saw him, whether detectives or servants, could doubt that he was profoundly affected.

He grew paler and thinner every day, until his own man even began to fear that his health was failing.

He had done, and continued to do, everything that was humanly possible.