The moment he was sure of the fact he laid aside the board and opened the wooden case.
Maria Luisa, who was very far from guessing what an intimate connection existed between the crucifix and Paolo in her husband's mind, looked on with increasing astonishment as he took out the beautiful object and Bet it upon the table in the light.

But when she saw it her admiration overcame her sorrow for one moment.
"_Dio mio!_ What a miracle!" she exclaimed.
"A miracle ?" repeated her husband, with a strange expression.

"Who knows?
Perhaps!" At that moment Gianbattista and Lucia entered through the open door, and stood together watching the scene without understanding what was passing.

The young girl recognised the crucifix at once.

She supposed that her father did not realise Paolo's condition, and was merely showing the masterpiece to her mother.
"That is the one I saw," she whispered to Gianbattista.