ced her in daily communication. She had heard a
celebrated man of science say that he himself was not quite sure what
electricity might or might not do since the discovery of the X-rays.

Her precautions had the effect of cutting off communication between her
and her nephew until her departure from Rome, which took place in the
course of a few days, considerably to the relief of the Countess, who
did not wish to meet her after what had passed.

Monsieur Leroy could not make up his mind to go and see the lawyer again
in order to stop any proceedings which the latter might be already
taking. Below his wish to serve the Princess and his hope of profiting
by his success, there lay his deep-rooted and unreasoning jealousy of
Guido d'Este, which he had never before seen any safe chance of
gratifying. It would be a profound satisfaction to see this man, who was
the mirror of honour, driven to extremities to escape disgrace. Another
element in his decision, if it could be called that, was the hopeless
disorder of his degenerate intelligence, which made it far easier for
him to allow anything he had done to bear fruit, to the last
consequence, than to make a second effort in order to arrest the growth
of evil.

The lawyer was at work, silently and skilfully, and in a few days
Princess Anatolie and Monsieur Leroy were comfortably established in her
place in Styria, where the air was delightfully cool.

What was left of society in Rome learned with a little surprise, but
without much regret, that the wedding was put off, and those who had
country places not far from the city, and had already gone out to them
for the summer, were delighted to know that they would not be expected
to come into town for the marriage during the great heat. No date had
ever been really fixed for it, and there was therefore no matter for
gossip or discussion. The only persons who knew that Cecilia had made an
attempt to break it off altogether were those most nearly concerned.

The Countess and Cecilia made preparations for going away, and the
dressmakers and other tradespeople breathed more freely when they were
told that they need not hurry themselves any longer.

But Cecilia had no intention of leaving without having seen Guido more
than once again, hard as it might be for her to face him. Lamberti had
written to her mother that he accepted Cecilia's decision gladly, and
hoped to be out of his room in a few days, but that he did not appear to
be