Lamberto Squarci, the notary, positively refused to advance anything, and it was quite certain that no one else would.

For Squarci, who was a wise villain in his way, and had aided and abetted Macomer's frauds in order to enrich himself, had only given his assistance so long as he was quite sure that he was acting as the paid agent of Veronica's guardian.

The responsibility was then entirely theirs, and he merely obeyed their directions in preparing any necessary legal documents.

But as soon as the guardianship had expired, he knew that in order to be of use in helping Macomer to rob his ward, he should be obliged to artificially construct the instruments needed, in such a way as to appear legal to the world.

In such business, forgery could not be far off.