Mirko found another gold piece for Colombina and the three masks jumped down shouting joyously.
"Evviva gli sposi!"
The crowd took up the cry and it rang after the retreating carriage.
Mirko looked at Ragna deprecatingly, but meeting her scornful eyes, turned his own away.
When at last they reached the Piazza Montecitorio he insisted on helping her out, and holding her fast by the hand, asked her:
"Do you really hate me then, after all?"
She drew her hand away from him, and without looking at him said "Good-bye" with a finality of accent not to be mistaken; then the portone swallowed her up. Mirko, with a muttered oath clambered back into the carriage and drove to his hotel. As he entered the lobby he encountered the unexpected form of Angelescu.
"When did you come?" he asked in surprise.
"At noon, and I have been waiting for you ever since. I have a message for you from the King—" he spoke the last word in a whisper.
"The devil you have! What's up?"