"What of that? It's my own affair, isn't it? If I choose to forgive him,

what matter is it to anybody else? I do forgive him! Now, whose

business is it except my own?"

"My dear Roma, I might tell you that it's mine also, and that the

insult that went through you was aimed at me. But I will not speak of

myself.... That you should change your plans so entirely, and setting

out a month ago to ... to ... shall I say betray ... this man Rossi, you

are now striving to save him, is a problem which admits of only one

explanation, and that is that ... that you...."

"That I love him--yes, that's the truth," said Roma boldly, but flushing

up to the eyes and trembling with fear.

There was a death-like pause in the duel. Both dropped their heads, and

the silent face in the bust seemed to be looking down on them. Then the

Baron's icy cheeks quivered visibly, and he said in a low, hoarse voice:

"I'm sorry! Very sorry! For in that case I may be compelled to justify

your conclusion that a Minister has no humanity and no pity. If David

Rossi cannot be arrested by the authorisation of Parliament, he must be

arrested when Parliament is not in session, and then his identity will

have to be established in a public tribunal. In that event you will be

forced to appear, and having refused to make a private statement in the

secrecy of a magistrate's office, you will be compelled to testify in

the Court of Assize."

"Ah, but you can't make me do that!" cried Roma excitedly, as if seized

by a sudden thought.

"Why not?"

"Never mind why not. You can't do it, I tell you," she cried excitedly.

He looked at her as if trying to penetrate her meaning, and then said: "We shall see."

At that moment the fretful voice of the Countess was heard calling to

the Baron from the adjoining room.

II

Roma went to her bedroom when the Baron left her, and remained there

until late in the afternoon. In spite of the bold front she had put on,

she was quaking with terror and tortured by remorse. Never before had

she realised David Rossi's peril with such awful vividness, and seen her

own position in relation to him in its hideous nakedness.

Was it her duty to confess to David Rossi that at the beginning of their

friendship she had set out to betray him? Only so could she be secure,

only so could she be honest, only so could she be true to the love he

gave her and the trust he reposed in her.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024