Is not the moment come to speak ?" Michael shook his head.
The Delegato bowed.
"I came to ask you to discuss the affair openly," he said, "to relieve my perplexity as a matter of courtesy.

But you will not speak.

Then I will speak instead.

When first I read the Marchesa's confession it came into my mind that the Marchesa, who I believe was your friend, might for some reason, possibly the sentimental devotion of an older woman for a young man--such things have been--that she _might_ have confessed on her deathbed to a crime which she had not committed in order to save you from--_this_"-- he touched the wall of the cell.

"I doubted that she really murdered her husband.