"Eh! who knows?" replied Beltrami, shrugging his shoulders. "She didn't even leave a message for me, her promised husband. I think, myself, the empty pillar of yesterday startled her. She evidently thought everything was discovered, therefore has gone to Rome so that she Can appeal to the King in case of trouble."
"And what are you going to do, Marchese?"
"The best thing I can do under the circumstances. I have applied for, and obtained, leave of absence, so I will give this infernal tenor the antidote to-day, and start for Rome by the night train."
"But when you arrive at Rome?"
"I will see Madame Morone, and tell her that I removed the body of Pallanza from the pillar."
"The body, Beltrami! You forget Pallanza is alive!"
"Of course he is, but I'm not going to tell her that. Cospetto! if she discovered that this devil of a tenor was still in existence my power over her would be gone, and she would not marry me. Ecco!"
"But as Pallanza will sing again, she is bound to find it out sooner or later."
"Eh! no doubt, Signor Hugo; but by the time she finds out I hope to be married. In that case it does not matter. Besides, I am going to make Pallanza promise not to sing anywhere for a month."
"Suppose he refuses?"