however Aurora may choose to act. I will send you word, in either case.
If Aurora will not go, I will come myself, if I can be of any use, if it
would make Regina feel happier. I will come, and I will tell her what I
have told you. Good-night, dear friend."

Kalmon was not an emotional man, but as he went out he felt a little
lump in his throat, as if he could not swallow.

He had not doubted his friend's kindness, but he had doubted whether she
would feel that she had a right to "expose her daughter," as the world
would say, to meeting such a "person," as the world called
Regina--"Consalvi's Regina."

CHAPTER XXII

All that night and the following day Regina recognised no one; and it
was night again, and her strength began to fail, but her understanding
returned. Marcello saw the change, and made a sign to the nurse, who
went out to tell Kalmon.

It was about nine o'clock when he entered the room, and Regina knew him
and looked at him anxiously. He, in turn, glanced at Marcello, and she
understood. She begged Marcello to go and get some rest. Her voice was
very weak, as if she were suffocating, and she coughed painfully. He did
not like to go away, but Kalmon promised to call him at midnight; he had
been in the room six hours, scarcely moving from his seat. He lingered
at the door, looked back, and at last went out.

"Will she come?" asked Regina, when he was gone.

"In half an hour. I have sent a messenger, for they have no telephone."

A bright smile lighted up the wasted face.

"Heaven will reward you," she said, as the poor say in Rome when they
receive a charity.

Then she seemed to be resting, for her hands lay still, and she closed
her eyes. But presently she opened them, looking up gratefully into the
big man's kind face.

"Shall I be alone with her a little?" she asked.

"Yes, my dear. You shall be alone with her."

Again she smiled, and he left the nurse with her and went and waited
downstairs at the street door, till the Contessa and Aurora should come,
in order to take them up to the little apartment. He knew that Marcello
must have fallen asleep at once, for he had not rested at all for
twenty-four hours, and very little during several days past. Kalmon was
beginning to fear that he would break down, though he was so much
stronger than formerly.

Marcello had always been grateful to Regina, even when he had convinced
himself that he loved her. Love is not very compatible with gra