216 JEROME CARDAN. 



axe !' At once receiving my cloak, I went out to the 

 market-square. When I was nearly half-way there, I 

 met my daughter's husband looking sorrowful, who said, 

 * Whither do you go?' I replied, * I doubt whether my 

 son, conscious of the deed, has not made full confession. 

 Then he replied, ' It is so. It has lately happened.' A 

 messenger whom I had sent then ran to me and told me 

 all." 



Gianbatista, who had at first maintained reserve, was 

 unable to restrain himself during a subsequent exami- 

 nation, when he heard the evasions of his famulus. That 

 youth declared that he had received the powder from his 

 master, understanding that it was to be given to Brandonia 

 for the purpose of increasing her milk, because she was ill 

 able to suckle the infant. When presently the person 

 was introduced of whom the poison had been bought, the 

 criminal confessed freely all of which he was accused, and 

 even more. For he said that he had held the deed two 

 months in contemplation, and that it had been twice 

 before attempted 1 . 



1 De Luctu. 



