itary tribunals are to sit to-morrow and domiciliary
visitations are already being made. Your own apartments have been
searched and sealed and the police have carried off papers.

"Such are the doings of this evil day, and yet--selfish woman that
I am--I cannot for my life think it is all evil. Has it not given
me you? And if it has taken you away from me as well, I can wait,
I can be patient. Where are you now, I wonder? And are you
thinking of me while I am thinking of you? Oh, how splendid! Think
of it! Though the train may be carrying you away from me every
hour and every minute, before long we shall be together. In the
first dream of the first sleep I shall join you, and we shall be
cheek to cheek and heart to heart. Good-night, my dear one!"

Again she tried to say something about her secret. But no! "Not
to-night," she thought, and after switching off the light and kissing
her hand in the darkness to the stars that hung over the north, she
laughed at her own foolishness and went to bed.

IV

Roma awoke next day with a sense of pain. Thus far she had beaten the
Baron--yes! But David Rossi? Had she sinned against God and against her
husband? She must confess. There was no help for it. And there must be
no hesitation and no delay.

Natalina came into the bedroom and threw open the shutters. She was
bringing a telegram, and Roma almost snatched it out of her hands. It
was from Rossi and had been sent off from Chiasso. "Crossed frontier
safe and well."

Roma made a cry of joy and leapt out of bed. All day long that telegram
was like wings under her heels and made her walk with an elastic step.

While taking her coffee she remembered the responsibilities she had
undertaken the day before--for the boy's funeral and Bruno's
maintenance--and for the first time in her life she began to consider
ways and means. Her ready money was getting low, and it was necessary to
do something.

Then Felice came with a sheaf of papers. They were tradesmen's bills and
required immediate payment. Some of the men were below and refused to go
away without the cash.

There was no help for it. She opened her purse, discharged her debts,
swept her debtors out of the house, and sat down to count what remained.

Very little remained. But what matter? The five words of that telegram
were five bright stars which could light up a darker sky than had fallen
on h