Milan, 22 October 1816, 8.30 p.m.
Contrada Marino leading into Piazza San Fedele
Ziani took in a breath of fresh sunset air that dissolved the fog and humidity of those autumn days.
He noted the streets of the contrada Marino swarming with people.
He fixed his gaze at the tailcoat of a man walking with a woman dressed in the imperial style, at some functionaries from the administrative buildings with ever-present briefcases under the arm, at a mass of foreign visitors contemplating the Teatro alla Scala and at the vendors selling the Gazzetta di Milano as they spoke of the mystery of the Tombone di San Marco.
He was undecided as to whether to conduct a further inspection of the scene of the crime when he heard a strong voice call out from piazza San Fedele:
‘Lieutenant Ziani, s
