"Perhaps," he answered, going on. "I am not sure."
"But—" Sabina checked herself and bit her lip.
"What?"
"Nothing. Go on, please. It must be getting late."
There was nothing more in the vault. They went all round the gilt statue without speaking, came back to the feet of the Aphrodite from the further side and stopped to look again. Still neither spoke for a long time. Malipieri held the lights in several positions, trying to find the best.
"Why must you leave Rome?" Sabina asked, at last, without turning her face to him.
"I am not sure that I must. I said I might, that was all."
Sabina tapped the ground impatiently with her foot.
"Why 'may' you have to go, then?" she asked a little sharply.
"Volterra may be able to drive me away. He will try, because he is afraid I may wish to get a share in the discovery."