“Well,” I said, “I wish to inquire one thing—namely, whether our friend the prior has any idea of what the Arnoldus contains?”
“No. He is entirely in ignorance of it. If he had, he certainly would never have been a party to this dastardly plot against you.”
“But what is the motive of this conspiracy?” I inquired, much puzzled.
“Your death,” she answered without hesitation. “Your enemies intend that you shall die.”
“Very charming of them,” I laughed, pretending not to take her words seriously. “But why, I wonder, are they so anxious for my decease?”
“Because you have gained their secret—you are believed to have read and understood what is contained in that newly discovered manuscript.”
“And if I have, I surely purchased the book at the price asked for it?”
“Ah! you see the prior had no right to sell it to you. A mistake was committed from the very first. How did you first know of its existence?”
“Through a dealer in antiques in Leghorn, named Francesco Graniani, an old hunchback.”
“I thought so!” she exclaimed. “I hear that he is in London. All this goes to show that you should be warned.”