and might wish to know him out of curiosity.

"May I introduce Mr. Griggs?" he said, with the stiff inclination which
was a part of his manner.

Griggs bowed, and Donna Francesca bent her head a little. Reanda came up
and shook hands with the American, and Francesca introduced the artist
to Dalrymple.

"I have long wished to have the pleasure of knowing you, Signor Reanda,"
said the latter. "We have many mutual acquaintances among the artists
here. I may say that I am a great admirer of your work, and my daughter,
too, for that matter."

Reanda said something civil as his hand parted from the Scotchman's.
Francesca saw an opportunity of bringing Reanda and Gloria together.

"As you like Signor Reanda's painting so much," she said to Dalrymple,
"will you not bring your daughter this afternoon to see the frescoes he
is doing in my house? You know the Palazzetto? Of course--you left a
card, but I had no one to return it," she added rather sadly. "Will you
also come, Mr. Griggs?" she asked, turning to the American. "It will
give me much pleasure, and I see you know Signor Reanda. This afternoon,
if you like, at any time after four o'clock."

Both Dalrymple and Griggs secretly wondered a little at receiving such
an invitation from a Roman lady whom the one had met but once before,
and to whom the other had but just been introduced. But they bowed their
thanks, and promised to come.

After a few more words they separated, Francesca and Reanda to pick out
the engraving they wanted, and the other two men to return to their
newspapers. By and bye Francesca passed them again, on her way out.

"I shall expect you after four o'clock," she said, nodding graciously as
she went by.

Dalrymple looked after her, till she had left the shop.

"That woman is not like other women, I think," he said thoughtfully, to
his companion.

The mask-like face turned itself deliberately towards him, with shadowy,
unwinking eyes.

"No," answered Griggs, and he slowly took up his paper again.

CHAPTER XIX.

DONNA FRANCESCA received her three guests in the drawing-room, on the
side of the house which she inhabited. Reanda was at his work in the
great hall.

Gloria entered first, followed closely by her father, and Francesca was
dazzled by the young girl's brilliancy of colour and expression, though
she had seen her once before. As she came in, the afternoon sun streamed
upon her face and turned her auburn hair to red gold, and