But I cannot talk to you yet. If you do not come with me, I shall
go back alone."

There was nothing to be done. He rose and walked by her side in silence.
The garden was almost empty now, and the Countess herself had gone in to
get a cup of tea.

"The roses are really marvellous," Guido remarked in a set tone, as they
came to the door.

Suddenly they were face to face with Lamberti, who was coming out, hat
in hand. He had waited for his opportunity, watching them from a
distance, and Guido knew it instinctively. He was quite cool and
collected, and smiled pleasantly as he spoke to Cecilia.

"May I not have the pleasure of talking with you a little, Signorina?"
he asked.

Guido could not help looking anxiously at the young girl.

"Certainly," she answered, without hesitation. "You will find my mother
near the tea table, Signor d'Este," she added, to Guido. "It is really
time that I should make your friend's acquaintance!"

He was as much amazed at her self-possession now as he had been at her
evident disturbance before. He drew back as Cecilia turned away from him
after speaking, and he stood looking after the pair a few seconds before
he went in. At that moment he would have gladly strangled the man who
had so long been his best friend. He had never guessed that he could
wish to kill any one.

Lamberti did not make vague remarks about the roses as Guido had done,
on the mere chance that some one might hear him, and indeed there was
now hardly anybody to hear. As for Cecilia, her anger against Guido had
sustained her at first, but she could not have talked unconcernedly now,
as she walked beside Lamberti, waiting for him to speak. She felt just
then that she would have walked on and on, whithersoever he chose to
lead her, and until it pleased him to stop.

"D'Este asked me this afternoon how long I had known you," he said, at
last. "I said that I had spoken with you twice, once at the Princess's,
and once to-day. Was that right?"

"Yes. Did he believe you?"

"No."

"He did not believe me either."

"And of course he asked you what there was between us," said Lamberti.

"Yes. I said that I could not tell him. What did you say?"

"The same thing."

There was a pause, and both realised that they were talking as if they
had known each other for years, and that they understood each other
almost without words. At the end of the walk they turned towards one
another, and their eyes met.

"Why did you run a