"Take those!" she said quickly, producing the pistol and the cartridges. "He must not have them."
Lamberti took the weapon and put it into his pocket, and held the parasol, while she untied the handkerchief and gave him the contents. Both began to go downstairs.
"I had better tell you who came," Lamberti said, as they went. "You will be surprised. It was your mother."
"My mother!" Cecilia stopped short on the step she had reached. "I did not think she meant to come!"
She went on, and Lamberti kept by her side.
"You can seem surprised when she tells you," he said. "You have definitely broken your engagement, then? Guido had time to tell me so."
"Yes, I could not lie to him. It was very hard, but I am glad it is all over, though he is very angry now."
They reached the last landing before the court without meeting any one, and she paused again. He wondered what expression was on her face while she spoke, for he could scarcely see the outline of her features through the veil.
"Thank you again," she said. "We may not meet for a long time, for my mother and I shall go away at once, and I suppose we shall not come back next winter." She spoke rather bitterly now. "My reputation is damaged, I fancy, because I have refused to marry a man I do not love!"
"I will take care of your reputation," Lamberti answered, as if he were saying the most natural thing in the world.