rom
the printer's I went on to the Piazza Navona and found a
wilderness of woe. Elena has gone away, leaving an ambiguous
letter behind her, saying that she wished her Madonna to be given
to me, as she would have no need of it in the place she was going
to. This led the old people to believe that for the loss of her
son and husband she had become demented and had destroyed herself.
I pretended to think differently, and warned them to say nothing
of their daughter's disappearance, thinking that Bruno might hear
of it, and find food for still further suspicions.

"Lawyer Napoleon F. has seen the poor soul again, and been here
this evening to tell me the result. It will seem to you
incredible. Bruno will do nothing to help in his own defence.
Talks of 'treachery' and the 'King's pardon.' Napoleon F. thinks
the Camorra is at work with him, and tells how criminals in the
prisons of Italy have a league of crime, with captains, corporals,
and cadets. My own reading of the mystery is different. I think
the Camorra in this case is the Council, and the only design is to
entrap by treachery one of the 'greater delinquents not in
custody.' I want to find out where Charles Minghelli is at
present. Nobody seems to know.

"As for me, what do you suppose is my last performance? I've sold
my jewels! Yesterday I sent for one of the _strozzini_, and the
old Shylock came this evening and cheated me unmercifully. No
matter! What do I want with jewellery, or a fine house, and
servants to follow me about as if I were a Cardinal? If _you_ can
do without them so can I. But you need not say you are anxious
about what is happening to me. I'm as happy as the day is long. I
am happy because I love you, and that is everything.

"Only one thing troubles me--the grief of the poor girl I told you
of. She follows me about, and is here all the time, so that I feel
as if I were possessed by her secret. In fact, I'm afraid I'll
blab it out to somebody. I think you would be sorry to see her.
She tries to persuade herself that because her soul did not
consent she was really not to blame. That is the thing that women
are always saying, isn't it? They draw this distinction when it is
too late, and use it as a quibble to gloss over their fault. Oh, I
gave it her! I told her she should have thought of that in time