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Certainly, if he had to wait whole years for a suitable

opportunity, he could not reckon on a more certain step towards

the success of the plan than that which had just presented

itself. In any case, it would have been difficult to find out

beforehand and with certainty, with greater exactness and less

risk, and without dangerous inquiries and investigations, that

next day at a certain time an old woman, on whose life an attempt

was contemplated, would be at home and entirely alone.

CHAPTER VI