This was done, and in twenty-four hours Gigi was safely lodged in a
cell by himself, with orders that he was on no account to be allowed
any communication with other prisoners.
Then Volterra went to see him, and instead of threatening him, offered
him his help if he would only tell the exact truth. Gigi was
frightened out of his wits and grasped at the straw, though he did not
trust the Baron much. He told what he had done; but with the loyalty
to friends, stimulated by the fear of vengeance, which belongs to the
Roman working man, he flatly denied that he had an accomplice. Yes, he
had spoken in the letter of two men who would be walking on the Via
Appia, and he had intended to take his brother-in-law with him, but he
said that he had not meant to explain why he took him until the last
minute. It was a matter for the galleys! Did his Excellency the
Senator suppose that he would trust anybody with that, until it was
necessary?
The consequence was that Gigi was kept quietly in prison for a few
days before any further steps were taken, having been arrested at the
instance of the Ministry of Justice for trying to extract blackmail
from the Conti family, and being undoubtedly guilty of the misdeed.
Volterra's name did not even appear in the statement.
Malipieri had not Volterra's influence, and intended to try more
personal methods with the carpenter; but when he appeared at the
palace in the afternoon, and asked the porter to go and call Gigi, the
old man shook his head and said that Gigi had been in prison three
days, and that nobody knew why he had been arrested.
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