conceive that I think her
Sandra's rival. She is too jealous. She has him in some web. If she has
not ruined him, she will. She was under my eyes the night she heard of
his marriage: I saw how she will look at seventy! Here is Carlo at the
head of a plot she has prepared for him; and he has Angelo Guidascarpi,
and Ugo Corte, Marco Sana, Giulio Bandinelli, and about fifty others.
They have all been kept away from Rome by that detestable ----- you
object to hear bad names cast on women, Merthyr. Hear Agostino! The poor
old man comes daily to this house to persuade Carlo to lead his band to
Rome. It is so clearly Rome--Rome, where all his comrades are; where the
chief stand must be made by the side of Italy's Chief. Worst sign of all,
it has been hinted semi-officially to Carlo that he may upon application
be permitted to re-issue his journal. Does not that show that the
Government wishes to blindfold him, and keep him here, and knows his
plans?"

Laura started up as the door opened, and Vittoria appeared leaning upon
Carlo's arm. Countess Ammiani, Countess d'Isorella, and Pericles were
behind them. Laura's children followed.

When Merthyr rose, Vittoria was smiling in Carlo's face at something that
had been spoken. She was pale, and her arm was in a sling, but there was
no appearance of her being unnerved. Merthyr waited for her recognition
of him. She turned her eyes from Carlo slowly. The soft dull smile in
them died out as it were with a throb, and then her head drooped on one
shoulder, and she sank to the floor.

CHAPTER XLII

THE SHADOW ON CONSPIRACY

Merthyr left the house at Laura's whispered suggestion. He was agitated
beyond control, for Vittoria had fallen with her eyes fixed on him; and
at times the picture of his beloved, her husband, and Countess Ammiani,
and the children bending over her still body, swam before him like a dark
altar-piece floating in incense, so lost was he to the reality of that
scene. He did not hear Beppo, his old servant, at his heels. After a
while he walked calmly, and Beppo came up beside him. Merthyr shook his
hand.

"Ah, signor Mertyrio! ah, padrone!" said Beppo.

Merthyr directed his observation to a regiment of Austrians marching down
the Corso Venezia to the Ticinese gate.

"Yes, they are ready enough for us," Beppo remarked. "Perhaps Carlo
Alberto will beat them this time. If he does, viva to him! If they beat
him, down goes another Venetian pyramid. The Countess