The Pope should have the treasure. That was settled, and the only question remaining concerned the means of transferring it to him when it was discovered.
CHAPTER IX
One evening it chanced that the Volterra couple were dining out, and that Sabina, having gone up to her room to spend the evening, had forgotten the book she was reading and came downstairs half-an-hour later to get it. She opened the drawing-room door and went straight to the table on which she had left the volume. As she turned to go back she started and uttered a little cry, almost of terror.
Malipieri was standing before the mantelpiece, looking at her.
"I am afraid I frightened you," he said quietly. "Pray forgive me."
"Not at all," Sabina answered, resting the book she held in her hand upon the edge of the table. "I did not know any one was here."
"I said I would wait till the Senator came home," Malipieri said.
"Yes." Sabina hesitated a moment and then sat down.
She smiled, perhaps at herself. In her mother's house it would have been thought extremely improper for her to be left alone with a young man during ten minutes, but she knew that the Baroness held much more modern views, and would probably be delighted that she and Malipieri should spend an hour together. He had been asked to luncheon again, but had declined on the ground of being too busy, much to the Baroness's annoyance.
Malipieri seated himself on a small chair at a discreet distance.