"Non fa niente! non fa niente!" interrupted the Cancelliere.
"Non fa niente! What time did you start?" said the Pretore.
The Maresciallo cleared his throat with great elaboration, and spat with power twice.
"Signor Pretore, I do not know. I did not look at the clock. But it was before sunset—it was well before sunset."
"And the signore only came down from the Casa del Prete very late," interposed Artois, quietly. "I was there and kept him. It was quite evening before he started."
An expression of surprise went over Salvatore's face and vanished. He had realized that for some reason this stranger was his ally.
"Had you any reason to suppose the signore was coming to fish with you yesterday?" asked the Pretore of Salvatore.
"No, signore. I thought as the signora was back the poor signore would stay with her at the house."
"Naturally, naturally!" said the Cancelliere.
"Naturally! It seems the signore had several times passed across the rocks, from which he appears to have fallen, without any difficulty," remarked the Pretore.