The Baron was fixing his eyes on her and she tried to elude his gaze.
"Whoever she is she must know more," he said in a severe voice, "and whatever it is she must reveal it."
Roma got up, looking very pale, and feeling very feeble. When she reached the door the Baron was smiling and holding out his hand.
"Will you not shake hands with me?" he said.
"What is the use?" she answered. "When people shake hands it means that they wish each other well. You do not wish me well. You are trying to force me to betray my husband.... But I'll die first," she said, and then turned and fled.
When Roma was gone the Baron wrote a letter to the Pope:
"Your Holiness,—Providential accident, as your chamberlain would tell you, has enabled his Majesty's Government to judge for itself of that source of your Holiness's information which your Holiness very properly refused to reveal. At the same time official channels have disclosed to his Majesty's Government the nature of the conspiracy of which your Holiness so patriotically forewarned them. This conspiracy appears to be no less serious than an attempt to assassinate the King, but as detailed knowledge of so vile a plot is necessary in order to save the life of our august sovereign, his Majesty's Government asks you to grant the Prime Minister the honour of an audience with your Holiness in the cause of order and public security. Hoping to hear of your Holiness's convenience, and trusting that your Holiness will not disappoint the hopes of those who are dreaming even yet of a reconciliation of Church and State, I am, with all reverence, your Holiness's faithful son and servant,
Bonelli."
IX
Roma went home full of uncertainty, and wrote in a nervous and straggling hand a hasty letter to Rossi.