Remembering what she had heard about the killings in the cathedral plaza, Sophia wondered if the contessa had any horror of murder at all.
"I am sure that is true," said the contessa. "But the podesta must have good reason for detaining this David."
Despair overwhelmed Sophia. The tears that had been falling in her soul sprang to her eyelids and began to run down her cheeks. She should not show her feelings like this, she thought. But what did it matter, when Daoud was dying and no one would lift a hand to save him?
"Why are you crying, child?" said the contessa. Sophia heard sympathy in her voice.
"Forgive me, Contessa," she said, sobbing. "This is very rude of me."
"Does this man mean so much to you?" asked the old lady, her rasping voice softened.
In her anguish, Sophia was still clear-headed enough to see that she might use that anguish. She threw herself down on the terrazzo floor and clasped the contessa around the knees.
"Sophia!" She could hear Ugolini's chair scrape as he stood up. The boy took a step toward her.
"It is all right," said the contessa. "You love this man, do you not?" She patted Sophia's hair.
"Yes," Sophia wept. "And I swear to you, he is innocent."
_He is, too, because he believes that everything he is doing is right._
"Your Eminence?" said the contessa. "You approve of your niece and this man from Trebizond?"
"Oh, certainly," said Ugolini waving his hands. "He is a fine man."
"Hmm," said the old lady. "That night at my reception I thought you and the young Count de Gobignon were attracted to each other."
"Oh, he is too far above me, Contessa," she said. "A count. David is a merchant. We are right for each other."
_It is true that David and I are much more suited than Simon and I._
"It makes me feel young for a moment to see a beautiful woman in love." The contessa stroked Sophia's cheek with dry, rough fingers.
Sophia opened her eyes wide and looked the contessa full in the face. "Please help us, Contessa, for the sake of love."
The contessa sighed and smiled. "I will send for d'Ucello. I will request that he stop questioning your friend." She looked across at Ugolini. "You must give me your word, Your Eminence, that this David will not leave Orvieto until all doubts about him are settled."