not possibly send his
sister to an hotel, neither could he telegraph her to delay her visit,
for she had already started; therefore--

The Senator had allowed di Leyni to complete the sentence for himself.
Di Leyni who, with a few other faithful ones, was aware of the secret
plots against Benedetto, was amazed. What should he answer? That the
Senator alone was master in his own house? That was, perhaps, the only
answer possible. Di Leyni had ventured, with much circumspection, to
express his fear that a move might prove fatal to the sick man. The
Senator was convinced of the contrary. He believed a change of air would
greatly benefit him. He had not as yet been able to consult the doctor,
but he had no doubt of this. He suggested Sorrento. As di Leyni did
not know what to say, and did not move, the Senator had dismissed him,
begging him to go, in his name, to the Grand Hotel, and see Signora
Dessalle, at whose request he had received Benedetto into his house,
and desire her to arrange matters, for his sister would arrive that same
evening before eleven o'clock.

Then di Leyni had gone in to see Benedetto. Good God! in what a state
he had found him! Without fever, perhaps, but with the appearance of a
dying man.

The young man's eyes were full of tears as he told of it. Benedetto did
not know he would be obliged to leave. He had spoken of it to him as of
something not yet certain but possible. Benedetto had looked at him
in silence, as if to read in his soul, and then had questioned, with a
smile: "Must I go to prison?" Then di Leyni repented of not having at
once told the whole truth to a man so strong and serene in God, and he
repeated to him all the Senator had said.

"He took my hand," the young man continued, his voice broken with
emotion, "and while he held it and caressed it, he said these precise
words: 'I will not leave Rome. Do you wish me to come and die in your
house?' I was so deeply moved that I had not the strength to answer, for
indeed I am not sure that he is not really in danger of arrest; perhaps
this incredible act of the Senator's may be a pretext to prevent the
arrest taking place in his house. And how could he be carried to another
place of safety, with the police watching for him? I embraced him,
murmured a few meaningless words, and hastened away; hastened here to
speak to this Signora Dessalle. Perhaps she will come and persuade the
Senator."

The Selvas had often interrupted di Leyni wit