Gracious lady, the magistrates told me that a mixed commission will be appointed to try the forgers and that his lordship, the baron, will be the president of this commission; on him depends the life and death of everyone concerned." Henrietta felt obliged to lean against the wall.
"My lady, I do not expect impossibilities, I cannot wish that the guilty should remain unpunished--justice is justice! But the leader of the whole gang was Fatia Negra, he planned everything, the others only carried out his orders.

And now there is a lot of false witnesses ready to swear that my father was the ring-leader and throw all the blame upon him, but it was Fatia Negra and nobody else as God knows." Every time the peasant woman mentioned Fatia Negra's name a spasmodic twitch convulsed Henrietta's pale features.
"Gracious lady," continued Anicza, "I implore you by the tender mercies of God not to abandon me.

Grant me my petition! Either let them kill me or lock me up with the others.

I implore you, my lady, to speak or write to your husband (if these things must be in writing) on my behalf.

Do not let me perish.