VIII

The doctor of the Engineers, not entirely satisfied with his diagnosis

of Roma's illness, prescribed a remedy of unfailing virtue--hope. It was

a happy treatment. The past of her life seemed to have disappeared from

her consciousness and she lived entirely in the future. It was always

shining in her eyes like a beautiful sunrise.

The sunrise Roma saw was beyond the veil of this life, but the good

souls about her knew nothing of that. They brought every piece of

worldly intelligence that was likely to be good news to her. By this

time they imagined they knew where her heart lay, and such happiness was

in her white face when as soldiers of the King they whispered treason

that they thought themselves rewarded.

They told her of an attempted attack on the Vatican, with all its

results and consequences--army disorganised, the Borgo Barracks shut up,

soldiers wearing cockades and marching arm in arm, the Government

helpless and the Quirinal in despair.

"I'm sorry for the young King," she said, "but still...."

It was the higher power working with blind instruments. Rossi would come

back. His hopes, so nearly laid waste, would at length be realised. And

if, as she had told Elena, he had to return over her own dead body, so

to speak, there would be justice even in that. It would be pitiful, but

it would be glorious also. There were mysteries in life and death, and

this was one of them.

She was as gentle and humble as ever, but every hour she grew more

restless. This conveyed to her guards the idea that she was expecting

something. Notwithstanding her plea of guilty, they thought perhaps she

was looking for her liberty out of the prevailing turmoil.

"I will be very good and do everything you wish, doctor. But don't

forget to ask the Prefect to let me stay in Rome over to-morrow. And,

Sister, do please remember to waken me early in the morning, because I'm

certain that something is going to happen. I've dreamt of it three

times, you know."

"A pity!" thought the doctor. "Governments may fall and even dynasties

may disappear, but judicial authorities remain the same as ever, and the

judgment of the court must be carried out."

Nevertheless he would speak to the Prefect. He would say that in the

prisoner's present condition the journey to Viterbo might have serious

consequences. As he was setting out on this errand early the following

morning, he met Elena in the anteroom, and heard that Roma was paying

the most minute attention to the making of her toilet.




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