Malipieri had listened attentively.
"Are you positively sure of that?" he asked.
"I have the authority of one of the first lawyers in Italy."
"But the Church?" asked Sabina anxiously. "I should not think it a marriage at all, if I were not married in church."
"I have asked a good priest about that," answered the Signora. "I go to confession to him, and he is a good man, and wise too. He told me that the Church could make no objection at all, since there has really been no marriage at all, and since Signor Malipieri will present himself after being properly and legally married to you at the municipality. He told me, on the contrary, that it is my duty to do everything in my power to help you."
"God bless you!" Sabina cried. "You are the best woman in the world!"
Malipieri took the Signora's hand and pressed it to his lips fervently, for he could not find any words.
"I shall only ask one thing," she said, speaking timidly again.
"Ask all I have," he answered, her hand still in his.
"But you may not like it. I should like to keep the name, if you do not mind very much, on account of my little girl. She need never know. I can leave her with a friend while we are in Switzerland."