f our love increasing it _would_ increase after going
through dangers like these. Keep well, dearest. Preserve that
sweet life which is so precious to me that I cannot live without
it. Do you remember, it was the 2nd of February when we parted in
the darkness at the church door, and now it is Easter, and the day
after to-morrow we shall hear the Easter bells! Spring is here,
and in the unchangeable changeableness of nature I see the
resurrection of humanity and listen to the Gloria of God.

"You cannot answer this letter, dear, because I shall already be
on the way to Rome before it reaches you, but you can send me a
telegram to Chiasso. Do so. I shall look out for the telegraph boy
the moment the train stops at the station. Say you are well and
happy and waiting for me, and it will be like a smile from your
lovely lips and eyes on the frontier of my native land.

"My train is due to arrive on Sunday morning at seven o'clock.
Meet me at the railway station, and let your face be the first I
see when the train draws up in Rome. Then ... let me hear your
voice, and let my heart become a King.

"D.R."

Roma had grown paler and paler as she read this letter. The man's love
and trust were crushing her. Tears filled her eyes and flooded her face.
But her soul, which had been stunned and had fallen, recovered itself
and arose.

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PART EIGHT--THE KING

I

Early on the morning of Holy Saturday a little crowd of Italians stood
on the open space in front of the platform at the Bahnhof of Zuerich.
Most of them wore the blue smocks and peaked caps of porters and
street-sweepers, but in the centre of the group was a tall man in a
frockcoat and a soft felt hat.

It was Rossi. He was noticeably changed since his flight from Rome. His
bronzed face was paler, his cheeks thinner, his dark eyes looked larger,
his figure stooped perceptibly, and he had the air of a man who was
struggling to conceal a consuming nervousness.

The bell rang for the starting of a train and Rossi shook hands with
everybody.

"Going straight through, Honourable?"

"No, I shall sleep at Milan to-night and go on to Rome in the morning."

"_Addio, Onorevole!_"

"_Addio!_"

The moment the train started, Rossi gave himself up to thoughts of Roma.
W