dimple."

"Oh, no," said she, seriously. "That is the mark of the Valdeschi. I
'm sure you have it too--we all have it. Let me see."

She took his lean brown hand, and examined it carefully, eagerly.

"There! I was sure!" she cried.

She pointed to where, in a position corresponding to that of the "mark
of the Valdeschi" in her own hand, there was an indentation that looked
like a half-obliterated scar.

Presently, in the direction of the Palace, a bell began to ring, rather
a deep-toned bell, like a church-bell.

Susanna rose.

"When you were here the other day as a mere visitor," she said, "I
suppose they did n't show you the chapel, did they?"

"No," said Anthony.

"They don't show it to mere visitors," she went on. "But come with me
now, and you shall see it. Father Angelo is going to give Benediction.
That is what the bell is ringing for."

She led the way towards the Palace. As they were crossing the bridge,
"Look," she said, and pointed to a flagstaff that sprang from the
highest pinnacle of the building. A flag was being hoisted there; and
now it fluttered forth and flew in the breeze, a red flag with a design
in gold upon it.

"The flag of the Count of Sampaolo: gules, a spine or," said Susanna.
"Of course you know why they are flying it now?"

"No--?" wondered Anthony.

"Because the Count of Sampaolo is at home," she said.

Then they went in to Benediction.

THE END

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