Shortly afterwards the court withdrew to deliberate. Followed by two neighbours, Bachisia led Giovanna into the little square, where, rather than comfort her daughter, she scolded her, crying, ‘If you don’t keep quiet I’ll give you a good beating.’

‘Mama, Mama,’ sobbed the girl. ‘They’re going to find him guilty. They’re going to take him away from me, and there’s nothing I can do.’

’What do you think you can do?’ one neighbour said. ‘Be patient, and let’s wait a little longer.’

At that moment three black figures appeared, one of them laughing and limping. It was Paolo Porru with two young friends, both priests.

‘There she is,’ said the law student. ‘It looks as if he’s already been sentenced.’

‘My word!’ one of the priests observed. ‘She’s as wild and spirited as an unbroken filly.’

The other one stared curiously at Giovanna. The three went up to the women, and Paolo asked if the case had been heard. One of the priests said, ‘Is he the man who murdered his uncle?’

The other priest went on staring at Giovanna, who had begun to regain her self-control.

‘He hasn’t killed anyone,’ Bachisia told them haughtily. ‘You’re the murderers, you black crows.’

‘If we’re crows, you’re a witch,’ replied the priest. Some of the bystanders laughed.

Meanwhile, at Paolo’s entreaties, Giovanna had calmed down. She promised not to make a scene if they let her go back into the courtroom. They all went in together. After a brief deliberation, the jurors were taking their seats again. A profound silence fell upon the hot, dim room. Giovanna heard a fly buzzing at one of the window bars, and her limbs grew heavy, as if cold iron bars were piercing them.

The judge read out the sentence in a low, even voice, while the prisoner stared, holding his breath. Again Giovanna heard the fly buzzing. Hatred surged through her, not so much at what the judge was saying but because he said it in such an unconcerned voice. That voice was pronouncing a twenty-seven-year prison sentence upon ‘the murderer who, after lengthy premeditation, had committed the crime against the person of his guardian, his own uncle.’