'I have seen the head nurse,' she said, 'and you are to have the best room in the hospital, and all sorts of extra care.'
Ugo said something as the orderlies set down the chair, but almost at the same moment the Princess heard another voice. It was hard and cold, and did not match the words it spoke.
'You have been extremely kind,' said Giovanni Severi.
She had fairly good nerves, and had been in a very small measure prepared for the surprise by having heard him talking in the passage, though in a very different tone; but she started and gasped audibly as she looked up and met his resentful eyes.
'Giovanni!' she cried in amazement. 'Is it you? Are you alive?'
But she had no doubt about it, in spite of the heavy beard that hid the lower part of his face.
'Oh, yes,' he answered rather coldly. 'Quite alive, thank you.'
She held out her hand now, but it was shaking when he took it. Doctor Pieri looked on in some surprise, but said nothing. One of the orderlies rang the bell that summoned the supervising nurse.
'Where have you been all these years?' asked the Princess. 'Why have you never written to your friends?'
'That is a long story,' Giovanni answered, in the same tone as before. 'If you happen to be on friendly terms with the Ministry, you will be doing the Government a service by not speaking of my return till it is made public.'