"You say 'twas I! Indeed, sir, 'tis not so; My hands are innocent of this man's blood. Nay, never fear! I pardon what you say; Your judgment is misled by false report. Why! if you heed the idle tongues that wag, There's not an honest man would 'scape the law; For every act bears two interpretations-- One good, one bad--so that our enemies Use that which fits in best with their desires, As evil witness 'gainst our true intents." There is no doubt that peril sharpens the wits of all, therefore Mrs. Belswin, in her interview with the Italian, proved herself such an able diplomatist, that after some difficulty she obtained what she wanted. According, therefore, to the arrangement she made with Ferrari, he was to tell Maxwell as much as possible of his doings at Deswarth without mentioning the name of Mrs. Belswin. On first hearing of Maxwell's accusation, Ferrari wanted to fly, as he plainly said it would be difficult for him to defend himself against such a charge, although he swore on the crucifix that he was perfectly innocent. Mrs. Belswin dissuaded him from this course, as she pointed out, that if he acknowledged the truth of the accusation by flight, Maxwell would immediately inform the police, and he would be arrested before he could leave England. On the contrary, however, if he faced the charge boldly, and explained the presence of the diamond scarf-pin on the terrace to the satisfaction of the young man, he would not only by doing so clear his own character, but might possibly lead to the capture of the true criminal. Ferrari agreed, therefore, to grant the interview desired by Maxwell, and tell the truth without betraying Mrs. Belswin's true position towards the dead man in any way; but during this very curious conversation, both the man and the woman asked each other the same question, "Are you guilty?" Mrs. Belswin solemnly swore that she was innocent, and told Ferrari the same story as she had told Dombrain concerning her doings on that night. This explanation satisfied the Italian, and then in response to Mrs. Belswin's question as to his innocence, he gave an account of how he had passed the night. "After you departed, carissima," he said, volubly, "I went to seek you, but the time was darkness. Cospetto! how black. I knew not the villaggio, so I returned to the osteria in one few minutes." "Were you in the hotel before eleven?" demanded Mrs. Belswin, artfully. "Cara mia, you fled at ten hours. I went. I came back at ten and ten. So I could not have killed Il Marito." Mrs. Belswin believed this story, as had he been out longer the landlord would certainly have talked about it, and Ferrari would have been arrested at once on suspicion. As it was she felt quite satisfied that he was innocent; and having thus come to a complete understanding with him, she departed. Mrs. Belswin, therefore, declared that she was innocent. Ferrari also declared his innocence.