“Do you know whether she is satisfied with the audience?”
“Yes; the empress promised to have her petition granted by to-morrow.”
“I did not doubt it. The empress is always so kindly disposed to grant a favor; and, were it otherwise, the sight of her who presented the petition could not fail to ensure its success.”
Clement made no reply to this observation. “You said, Monsieur le Marquis, that an unexpected incident—”
“Yes, I am coming to it. I must first tell you what perhaps you are ignorant of.—That miserable Fabiano Dini, who so cruelly compromised George, and was confined with him—”
Clement, surprised, interrupted him with emotion. “The unfortunate man is actually dying, Monsieur le Marquis. He was removed from the fortress last night, and—”
“Parbleu! I know it; that was precisely what I was going to tell you. But how did you find it out?”
“I made inquiries respecting him.”
“You knew this Fabiano, then?”
“Yes, a little, and was interested in knowing what had become of him.”