"He must have followed Mr. Rossi," said Roma, and without ado she read the letter.
"Dear Roma,—A thousand thanks for suggesting Charles Minghelli. I sent for him, saw him, and appointed him immediately. Thanks, too, for the clue about your father. Highly significant! I mentioned it to Minghelli, and the dark fire in his eyes shone out instantly. Adieu, my dear! You are on the right track! I will observe your request and not come near you.—Affectionately,
"Bonelli."
III
Next morning Roma found herself dressing with extraordinary care.
After coffee she went into the Countess's room as usual. The old lady had made her toilette, and her cat was purring on a cushion by her side.
"Aunt Betsy, is it true that my father was decoyed back to Italy by the police?"
"How do I know that? But if he was, it was no more than he might have expected. He had been breeding sedition at the safe distance of a thousand miles, and it was time he was brought to justice. Besides...."
"Well?"
"There were the estates, and naturally the law could not assign them to anybody else while there was no judgment against your father."