"By whose order?"
"Surely by your own Master's will," said Aubrey with deep earnestness.
"For he would not have you be a victim to treachery!"
"Treachery!" And the Cardinal smiled. "My son, traitors harm themselves more than those they would betray. Treachery cannot touch me!"
Aubrey came a step nearer.
"Monsignor, if you do not care for yourself you will care for the boy," he said in a lower tone, with a glance at Manuel, who had withdrawn, and was now standing at one of the windows, the light of the sunset appearing to brighten itself in his fair hair. "He will be separated from you!"
At this the Cardinal rose up, his whole form instinct with resolution and dignity.
"They cannot separate us against the boy's will or mine," he said.
"Manuel!"
Manuel came to his call, and the Cardinal placed one hand on his shoulder.
"Child," he said softly, "they threaten to part me from you, if we stay longer here. Therefore we must leave Rome!"
Manuel looked up with a bright flashing glance of tenderness.