"You have discovered whose child it was?"

"Yes. Unluckily...."

Roma felt dizzy. A thought had flashed upon her.

"It is the child of Donna Roma's man, Bruno Rocco, and apparently...."

A choking cry rang through the room. Was it herself who made it?

"Go on, Commendatore. Apparently...."

"The child was dressed in some carnival costume, and apparently he was

on his way to this house."

Roma's dizziness increased, and to save herself from falling she caught

at a side-table that stood under the bust.

On this table were some sculptor's tools--a chisel and a small mallet,

with which she had been working.

There was an interval in which the voices were deadened and confused.

Then they became clear and sharp as before.

"But the most important fact you have not yet given me. I trust you are

only saving it up for the last. The Deputy Rossi is arrested?"

"Unfortunately ... Excellency...."

"No?"

"He left home immediately after the outbreak and has not been seen

since. Presently the flashlight will be turned on by a separate battery

from Monte Mario, and every corner of the city shall be searched. But we

fear he is gone."

"Gone?"

"Perhaps by the train that left just before the signal."

Roma felt a cry rising to her throat again, but she put up her hand to

keep it down.

"No matter! Commendatore, send telegrams after the train to all stations

up to the frontier, with orders that nobody is to alight until every

carriage has been overhauled. Minghelli, go to the Consulta immediately,

and ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs to despatch a portrait of Rossi

to every foreign Government."

"But no portrait exists, Excellency. It was a difficulty I found in

England."

"Yes, there is a portrait. Come this way."

Roma felt the room going round as the Baron came into it and switched on

the light.

"There is the only portrait of the illustrious Deputy, and our hostess

will lend it to be photographed."

"Never!" said Roma, and taking up the mallet she struck the bust a heavy

blow, and it fell in fragments to the floor.

Half-an-hour afterwards Roma was sitting amid the wreck of her work when

the Baron, wearing his fur-lined overcoat and pulling on his gloves,

came into the boudoir.

"I am compelled," he said, "to inflict my presence upon you for a moment

longer in order to tell you what my attitude in the future is to be, and

what feelings are to guide you. I shall continue to think of you as my

wife according to the law of nature, and of the man who has come between

us as your lover. I will not give you up to him, whatever happens; and

if he tries to take you away, or if you try to go to him, you must be

prepared to find that I offer every resistance. Two passions are now

engaged against the man, and I will not shrink from any course that

seems necessary to subdue either him or you, or both."




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