My brain is confused. Things run together in
it. But I understand. I think I understand."

She rose and kissed his trembling hand. He was still holding the
warrant.

"Where did this paper come from?"

"The English Ambassador brought it this morning. He had found it in our
rooms in the Piazza Navona."

"The place where the crime was committed?"

"Yes."

The Pope straightened himself up, and said in a firm voice:

"My daughter, you must permit me to keep this warrant."

"No, no!"

"Yes, yes! If I said before that your husband should come out and defend
you, I say now that he shall come out and accuse himself."

"Your Holiness!"

"He shall go to the courts and say: 'This lady is innocent. She
sacrificed herself to save my life. I do not ask for mercy. I ask for
justice. Liberate her and arrest me.'"

Roma had knelt again, and was fingering the skirt of the Pope's cassock.

"But, Holy Father," she said, "there is something I have not told you.
He who killed the Minister did so in self-defence...."

"In self-defence!"

"His act was an accident, and if it had not happened the Minister would
have killed him, whereas I...."

"In self-defence, you say?"

"I am really guilty of the crime, because I intended to commit it."

"But if it was done in self-defence it was no crime, and you must not
and shall not suffer."

Roma dropped the Pope's cassock and took hold of his hand.

"Holy Father," she said, "how can I wish to live when he who loved me
loves me no longer? I know quite well it is better that I should go, and
that when he comes it should be all over. I dreamt of it last night,
your Holiness. I thought my husband had come back and all the church
bells were ringing. Only a dream, and perhaps you do not believe in such
foolishness. But it was very sweet to think that if I could not live for
my love I could die for him, and so wipe out everything."

The Pope's white head was bent very low.

"And then I cannot suffer very much, your Holiness. I am ill, really
ill, and my trouble will not last very long. And if God is using what
has happened to bring out all things well, perhaps He intends that I
shall give myself in the place of some one who is better and more
necessary."

The Pope could bear no more. His lip quivered and his voice shook, but
his eyes were shining.

"It is not for me to gainsay you, my daughter. I came here to see Mary
Magdalene, and find the soul of the saints themselves. The wor