etings.

"But what can we expect in the provincial towns, your Excellency, while
in the capital we are doing nothing? The chief of all subversive
societies is in Rome, and the directing mind is at large among
ourselves. Listen to this, sir."

The Prefect took a newspaper from his pocket and began to read:

"ROMANS,--The new law is an attempt to deprive us of liberties
which our fathers made revolutions to establish. It is, therefore,
our duty to resist it, and to this end we must hold our meeting on
the 1st of February according to our original intention. Only thus
can we show the Government and the King what it is to oppose the
public opinion of the world.... Meet in the Piazza del Popolo at
sundown and walk to the Coliseum by way of the Corso. Be peaceful
and orderly, and God put it into the hearts of your rulers to avert
bloodshed."

"That is from the _Sunrise_?"

"Yes, sir, the last of many manifestoes. And what is the result? The
people are flocking into Rome from every part of the province."

"And how many political pilgrims are here already?"

"Fifty thousand, sixty, perhaps a hundred thousand. It cannot be allowed
to go on, your Excellency."

"It is a _levee-en-masse_ certainly. What do you advise?"

"That the enemies of the Government and the State, whose erroneous
conceptions of liberty have led to this burst of anarchist feelings, be
left to the operation of the police laws."

The Baron glanced at Roma. Her face was flushed and her eyes were
flashing.

"That," he said, "may be difficult, considering the number of the
discontented. What is the strength of your police?"

"Seven hundred in uniform, four hundred in plain clothes, and five
hundred and fifty municipal guards. Besides these, sir, there are three
thousand Carabineers and eight thousand regular troops."

"Say twelve thousand five hundred armed men in all?"

"Precisely, and what is that against fifty, a hundred, perhaps a hundred
and fifty thousand people?"

"You want the army at call?"

"Exactly! but above everything else we want the permission of the
Government to deal with the greater delinquents, whether Deputies or
not, according to the powers given us by the statute."

The Baron rose and held out his hand. "Thanks, Senator! The Government
will consider your suggestions immediately. Be good enough to send in my
colleague, the Minister of War."

When the Prefect left the room Roma rose to g