: you
can see, I presume, that if I had had any intention of furthering
Spini's plot, I should now be aware that the possession of a fair
Piagnone for my wife, who knows the secret of the plot, would be a
serious obstacle in my way."

Tito assumed the tone which was just then the easiest to him,
conjecturing that in Romola's present mood persuasive deprecation would
be lost upon her.

"Yes, Tito," she said, in a low voice, "I think you believe that I would
guard the Republic from further treachery. You are right to believe it:
if the Frate is betrayed, I will denounce you." She paused a moment,
and then said, with an effort, "But it was not so. I have perhaps
spoken too hastily--you never meant it. Only, why will you seem to be
that man's comrade?"

"Such relations are inevitable to practical men, my Romola," said Tito,
gratified by discerning the struggle within her. "You fair creatures
live in the clouds. Pray go to rest with an easy heart," he added,
opening the door for her.

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

CHECK.

Tito's clever arrangements had been unpleasantly frustrated by trivial
incidents which could not enter into a clever man's calculations. It
was very seldom that he walked with Romola in the evening, yet he had
happened to be walking with her precisely on this evening when her
presence was supremely inconvenient. Life was so complicated a game
that the devices of skill were liable to be defeated at every turn by
air-blown chances, incalculable as the descent of thistle-down.

It was not that he minded about the failure of Spini's plot, but he felt
an awkward difficulty in so adjusting his warning to Savonarola on the
one hand, and to Spini on the other, as not to incur suspicion.
Suspicion roused in the popular party might be fatal to his reputation
and ostensible position in Florence: suspicion roused in Dolfo Spini
might be as disagreeable in its effects as the hatred of a fierce dog
not to be chained.

If Tito went forthwith to the monastery to warn Savonarola before the
monks went to rest, his warning would follow so closely on his delivery
of the forged letters that he could not escape unfavourable surmises.
He could not warn Spini at once without telling him the true reason,
since he could not immediately allege the discovery that Savonarola had
changed his purpose; and he knew Spini well enough to know that his
understanding would discern nothing but that Tito had "turned round" and
fr