'It is a very terrible thing,' she answered slowly. 'You love the girl, you wish to marry her, and you have killed her brother. Is not that the truth?'
'Yes, that is the truth,' said Orsino. 'Help me to see her. No one else can.'
'Does anyone know? Did you speak about it to her mother, or her brothers, before you left? Does Ippolito know?'
'No one knows. Will you help me, mother?'
'I will do my best,' said Corona thoughtfully. 'Not that I wish you to marry into that family,' she added. 'They have a bad name.'
'But she is not like them. It is not her fault.'
'No, it is not her fault, and she has not their faults. But for her brothers—well, we need not talk of that. For the sake of what there has been between you two, already, you have a sort of right to see Vittoria.'
'I must see her.'
'I went there yesterday, after we read the news in the papers,' said Corona. 'Her mother was ill. Later your father came in and said he had seen Don Tebaldo at the club. You heard what he said. They mean to deny the relationship. In fact, they have done so. I can therefore propose to take Vittoria to drive to-morrow afternoon, and I can bring her here to tea, in my own sitting-room. Then you may come here and see her, and I will leave you alone for a little while. Yes—you have a right to see her and to defend yourself to her, and explain to her how you killed that poor man, not knowing who he was.'
'Thank you—you are very good to me. Mother—' he hesitated a moment—'if my father had killed your brother by accident, would you have married him?'