The information was clear, but the thought that Tebaldo might die without having cleared Ippolito was anything but reassuring. Corona's instinct was to start at once, but she remembered her promise to Vittoria, and did not see how she could make such a journey without informing her husband and giving some explanation of her conduct. She went to his room as soon as she knew what she must do.
'Giovanni,' she said, 'I wish you to go to Sicily with me at once. I must go to Messina.'
Giovanni looked at her sharply in surprise.
'Are you ill, my dear?' he enquired. 'Is it for a change? Is anything the matter?'
Corona laughed, for she had never been ill in her life. The mere idea seemed ludicrous to her.
'Can you imagine me ill?' she asked. 'No. I will tell you what I can. Someone has told me something, making me promise not to tell anyone else—'
'Your informant is a woman, dear,' observed Giovanni, smiling.
'Never mind who it was. But from what was told me I know that if I can go to Messina I can get evidence which will clear Ippolito completely. So I came to you.'
'Are you positively sure?' asked Sant' Ilario. 'It is a long journey.'