“No occasion to do so,” said Christopher imperturbably. “The friendship has been mutual, and I hope will still continue.”
“Of course,” said Sara. “That was one thing I wanted to say to you. My love for Paul doesn’t make the least difference in my friendship for you. You will be exactly the same to me, as I shall be, I hope, to you.”
“Agreed,” said Christopher, holding out his hand with a smile. But he knew that it never would be quite the same again. Her marriage with Guiseppe had made no difference, her marriage with Paul would. And with the knowledge Christopher had suddenly realized what he was losing. He was like a man who had had a jewel in a box, looking at it always in one position, and it was not till he took it in his hand to give it to another that it suddenly flashed upon him in a new light, and he saw colours and depths in it hitherto unperceived, and a longing to keep it took possession of him. But the deed was already virtually signed and witnessed, the power to keep it lost, and so he hid what he was feeling, and his manner towards her held nothing but his old courtliness, his old friendship. The pain the new knowledge had brought him must be his alone.
And as the taxi stopped at the door of the church he helped Sara to alight, and gave her his arm to lead her up the steps, and up the aisle to the other man who was waiting for her.
CHAPTER XXXIII
A GIFT FROM THE DEAD
SIGNOR Bernardo Cignolesi took his watch from his pocket and looked at Signor Manfredi Guido.
“It is, I think, the exact hour,” he said.
They were small and dapper Italians, these two, who had been appointed by the late Duca di Corleone as the executors of his will and the keepers of the letter.
The whole party was assembled in Miss Mason’s studio. The wedding was over. Paul and Sara had plighted their troth. The blessing upon them had been pronounced. And when the last words of it had died away the church had been suddenly filled with music, the notes of a violin joyous and sweet, a wedding song for the two, a song that had never before been played.