“‘Consalvi, Cardinal,
“‘Secretary of State to Pius VII.’
“Under direction of the Cardinal of Ravenna, you will act upon this without delay.
“To the Sub-direction of Police at Ravenna.”
Gordon raised his eyes with a start. Teresa—to be shut from the face of the sun, from flowers, from gladness, for years, at least during the lifetime of her husband, perhaps forever? From him? Was this the fate he, cursed as he was, must bring upon her?
He felt his breath stop. What could he do? Take her away? How and where? “Her immediate conveyance”—“act without delay.” Those were no ambiguous words; they meant more than soon. If it should be to-day! If authority was on its way to her, even now, while he dallied here!
Tita saw the deathly pallor that overspread his face like a white wave. “What is it, Excellence?” he cried.
Gordon made no reply. He dashed the portafogli on the floor and rushed from the room.
His horse stood at the casa entrance. He pushed past the stolid sentinel, threw himself into the saddle, and lashed the animal to an anguish of speed toward the villa.
CHAPTER XLV
THE SUMMONS
Seated amid the dahlias, Teresa, from speculation as to what had recalled Gordon to the casa, drifted into a long day-dream from which a sudden sound awoke her.