"But you are dying to hear what is really happening in Rome, so

your own special envoy must send off her budget as a set-off

against those official telegrams. 'Not a day with out a line,' so

my letter will look like words shaken out of a literary pepper-box.

Let me bring my despatches up to date.

"Military rule severer than ever, and poverty and misery on all

sides. Families of reserve soldiers starving, and meetings of

chief citizens to succour them. Donation from the King and from

the 'Black' Charity Circle of St. Peter. Even the clergy are

sending francs, so none can question their sincerity. Bureau of

Labour besieged by men out of work, and offices occupied by

Carabineers. People eating maize in polenta and granturco with the

certainty of sickness to follow. Red Cross Society organised as in

time of war, and many sick and wounded hidden in houses.

"And now for more personal matters. The proclamation is in hand,

and paid for, and will be posted first thing in the morning. From

the printer's I went on to the Piazza Navona and found a

wilderness of woe. Elena has gone away, leaving an ambiguous

letter behind her, saying that she wished her Madonna to be given

to me, as she would have no need of it in the place she was going

to. This led the old people to believe that for the loss of her

son and husband she had become demented and had destroyed herself.

I pretended to think differently, and warned them to say nothing

of their daughter's disappearance, thinking that Bruno might hear

of it, and find food for still further suspicions.

"Lawyer Napoleon F. has seen the poor soul again, and been here

this evening to tell me the result. It will seem to you

incredible. Bruno will do nothing to help in his own defence.

Talks of 'treachery' and the 'King's pardon.' Napoleon F. thinks

the Camorra is at work with him, and tells how criminals in the

prisons of Italy have a league of crime, with captains, corporals,

and cadets. My own reading of the mystery is different. I think

the Camorra in this case is the Council, and the only design is to

entrap by treachery one of the 'greater delinquents not in

custody.' I want to find out where Charles Minghelli is at

present. Nobody seems to know.

"As for me, what do you suppose is my last performance? I've sold

my jewels! Yesterday I sent for one of the strozzini, and the

old Shylock came this evening and cheated me unmercifully. No

matter! What do I want with jewellery, or a fine house, and

servants to follow me about as if I were a Cardinal? If you can

do without them so can I. But you need not say you are anxious

about what is happening to me. I'm as happy as the day is long. I

am happy because I love you, and that is everything.




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