hunchbacks are
supposed to bring with them, I am sure! That is ridiculous. Besides, I
would not for the world displease the poor fellow, if my suggestion were
not agreeable to him, as well as to your husband, madam, believe me!'

Even in her anxiety Ortensia was inclined to smile, for it was clear
that the master of Rome believed in the deformed man's supernatural gift
as profoundly as any beggar in the street who tried to touch the hump
unnoticed.

'I will speak with my husband about it,' Ortensia said. 'Only let me see
him,' she added, in a pleading tone.

'For the present, madam, I have done all I can, except to promise you
that if His Holiness is well enough to hear the Maestro sing, you shall
be present. Meanwhile, you must go home, and remain in your rooms till I
send for you.'

He held out his ring for her to kiss, and she saw that she must go.

'I thank your Eminence with all my heart,' she said, and with a deep
courtesy she turned and left the room.

Her heart was lighter than when she had entered it, for though she did
not like the Cardinal, who was liked by few, she could not help
believing that he was in earnest in all he had said, and really meant to
give Stradella the only chance left to him of escaping some heavy
penalty for his hastiness. But she longed to see him more than ever, and
to repeat all she had just heard exactly as it had been said.

As she retraced her steps from the study to the stairs, accompanied by a
servant who showed her the way, she looked about her in surprise, for
she had not the slightest recollection of anything she now saw, and was
amazed at the distance she had traversed without noticing anything. She
could have sworn that she had gone up by an ordinary staircase, but
instead, it was a winding one, and everything else she saw surprised her
in the same way.

Cucurullo was standing beside the large sedan chair with the four
porters who wore the Cardinal's livery of scarlet and gold. Two of them
were to carry her, while one walked before and the fourth followed
behind, both the latter being ready to take their turns as bearers at
regular intervals.

When they reached the palace a quarter of an hour later, they did not
even pause at the lodge, and it was with considerable astonishment that
Gaetano saw Ortensia enter in such state, followed by Cucurullo, who
smiled pleasantly as he passed.

Ortensia stepped from the chair at her own door and thanked the men, for
she had