Gianbattista was heavy, and the whole ladder with his weight upon it had gained too much impetus to be easily stopped by one man.

With a loud crash he fell with the wooden frame upon the smooth marble floor.

Rolling to one side, Gianbattista leapt to his feet, dazed but apparently unhurt.
The priest lay motionless in a distorted position under the ladder, his head bent almost beneath his body, and one arm projecting upon the pavement, seemingly twisted in its socket, the palm upwards.

The long white fingers twitched convulsively once or twice, and then were still.
It was all the affair of a moment.

Maria Luisa screamed and leaned against the pillar for support, while Lucia ran forward and knelt beside the injured man.