g discipline of two years seemed to be nullified: she
felt nothing but that they were divided.

They were nearly in darkness again, and could only see each other's
faces dimly.

"Tell me the truth, Tito--this time tell me the truth," said Romola, in
a low quivering voice. "It will be safer for you."

"Why should I desire to tell you anything else, my angry saint?" said
Tito, with a slight touch of contempt, which was the vent of his
annoyance; "since the truth is precisely that over which you have most
reason to rejoice--namely, that my knowing a plot of Spini's enables me
to secure the Frate from falling a victim to it."

"What is the plot?"

"That I decline to tell," said Tito. "It is enough that the Frate's
safety will be secured."

"It is a plot for drawing him outside the gates that Spini may murder
him."

"There has been no intention of murder. It is simply a plot for
compelling him to obey the Pope's summons to Rome. But as I serve the
popular government, and think the Frate's presence here is a necessary
means of maintaining it at present, I choose to prevent his departure.
You may go to sleep with entire ease of mind to-night."

For a moment Romola was silent. Then she said, in a voice of anguish,
"Tito, it is of no use: I have no belief in you."

She could just discern his action as he shrugged his shoulders, and
spread out his palms in silence. That cold dislike which is the anger
of unimpassioned beings was hardening within him.

"If the Frate leaves the city--if any harm happens to him," said Romola,
after a slight pause, in a new tone of indignant resolution,--"I will
declare what I have heard to the Signoria, and you will be disgraced.
What if I am your wife?" she went on, impetuously; "I will be disgraced
with you. If we are united, I am that part of you that will save you
from crime. Others shall not be betrayed."

"I am quite aware of what you would be likely to do, _anima mia_," said
Tito, in the coolest of his liquid tones; "therefore if you have a small
amount of reasoning at your disposal just now, consider that if you
believe me in nothing else, you may believe me when I say I will take
care of myself, and not put it in your power to ruin me."

"Then you assure me that the Frate is warned--he will not go beyond the
gates?"

"He shall not go beyond the gates."

There was a moment's pause, but distrust was not to be expelled.

"I will go back to San Marco now and find out,