t the end of the middle avenue seemed to flush with pale tints
as of flesh. A crescent moon rose over the pyramid of Cestius, in a deep
and glassy sky, like the waters of a calm and sheltered bay.

They went through the centre avenue to the gates. The gardeners were
still watering the plants, and two other men held a velvet and silver
pall by the two ends, and were beating it vigorously, while the dust
rose high and glittered in the air.

From the Aventine came the sound of bells.

Maria clung to her lover's arm, unable to control her anguish, feeling
the ground give way beneath her feet, her life ebb from her at every
step. Once inside the carriage, she burst into a passion of tears,
sobbing despairingly on her lover's shoulder.

'I shall die!'

But she did not die. Better a thousand times for her that she had!

CHAPTER IX

Two days after this, Andrea was lunching with Galeazzo Secinaro at a
table in the Caffe di Roma. It was a hot morning. The place was almost
empty; the waiters nodded drowsily among the buzzing flies.

'And so,' the bearded prince went on, 'knowing that she had a fancy for
strange and out-of-the-way situations, I had the courage to----'

He was relating in the crudest terms the extremely audacious means by
which he had at last succeeded in overcoming Lady Heathfield's
resistance. He exhibited neither reserve nor scruples, omitting no
single detail, and praising the acquisition to the connoisseur. He only
broke off, from time to time, to put his fork into a piece of juicy red
meat, or to empty a glass of red wine. His whole bearing was expressive
of robust health and strength.

Andrea Sperelli lit a cigarette. In spite of all his efforts, he could
not bring himself to swallow a mouthful of food, and with the wine
Secinaro poured out for him, he seemed to be drinking poison.

There came a moment at last, when the prince, in spite of his
obtuseness, had a qualm of doubt, and he looked sharply at Elena's
former lover. Except his want of appetite, Andrea gave no outward sign
of inward agitation; with the utmost calm he puffed clouds of smoke into
the air, and smiled his habitual, half-ironical smile, at his jocund
companion.

The prince continued: 'She is coming to see me to-day for the first
time.'

'To you--to-day?'

'Yes, at three o'clock.'

The two men looked at their watches.

'Shall we go?' asked Andrea.

'Let us,' assented Galeazzo rising. 'We can go up the Via de' Con