o me in the
world?

"The spring is coming to take me home to you, darling. Don't you
smell the violets? Adieu!
"YOUR FAITHFUL HUSBAND."

Roma slept little that night. Joy, relief, disappointment, but, above
all, fear for Rossi, apprehension about his plans, and overpowering
dread of the consequences kept her awake for hours. Early next day a man
in a blue uniform brought a letter from the Braschi Palace. It ran:--

"DEAR ROMA,--I must ask you to come across to my office this
morning, and as soon as convenient. You will not hesitate to do
so when I tell you that by this friendly message I am saving you
the humiliation of a summons from the police. Yours, as always,
affectionately,
BONELLI."

VI

The Minister of the Interior sat in his cabinet before a table covered
with blue-books and the square sheets of his "projects of law," and the
Commendatore Angelelli, with his usual extravagant politeness, was
standing and bowing by his side.

"And what is this about proclamations issued by Rossi?" said the Baron,
fixing his eye-glasses and looking up.

"We have traced the printer who published them," said Angelelli. "After
he was arrested he gave the name of the person who paid him and provided
the copy."

The Baron bowed without speaking.

"It was a certain lady, Excellency," said Angelelli in his thin voice,
"so we thought it well to wait for your instructions."

"You did right, Commendatore. Leave that part of the matter to me. And
Rossi himself--he is still in England?"

"In France, your Excellency, but we have letters from both London and
Paris detailing all his movements."

"Good."

"The Chief Commissioner writes that during his stay in London Rossi
lodged in Soho, and received visits from nearly all the representatives
of revolutionary parties. Apparently he united many conflicting forces,
and not only the Democratic Federations and the Socialist and Labour
Leagues, but also the Radical organisations and various religious guilds
and unions gathered about him."

The Baron made a gesture of impatience. "It's a case of birds of a
feather. London has always been the central home of anarchy under
various big surnames. What does the Commissioner understand to be
Rossi's plan?"

"Rossi's plan, the Commissioner thinks, is to send back the