"Of course she began to cry, but then tears do not acquit one: Luigi pushed her away. She would be left with a child in her arms without food or money.
"Catherine was the first of the women to intervene. She kept a small greengrocer's shop and was as cunning as a fox; in appearance she resembled an old sack filled unevenly with flesh and bones.
"'Signor,' she said, 'you have already heard that this concerns the honour of us all. It is not a prank prompted by a night when the moon is bright; the fate of two mothers is involved, isn't that so? I will take Concetta to my house and let her live with me till we find out the truth.'
"She was as good as her word; and later she and Luccia, the noisy, shrivelled old witch, whose voice could be heard three miles away, both tackled poor Giuseppe: they asked him to come out and began to pluck at his soul as if it had been an old rag.
"'Well, my good man, tell us how many times you took Concetta to yourself?'
"The fat Giuseppe puffed out his cheeks, thought awhile, and said:
"'Once!'
"'He could have told us that without reflection,' remarked Luccia aloud, as if talking to herself.
"'Did it happen in the evening, in the night, or in the morning?' asked Catherine, after the fashion of a judge.
"Giuseppe chose evening without thinking.