y tell me
this;--if Nagen captures Count Ammiani, how is he likely to deal with
him?"

"How can I inform you?" Anna replied coldly; but she reflected in a
fire of terror. She had given Nagen the prompting of a hundred angry
exclamations in the days of her fever of hatred; she had nevertheless
forgotten their parting words; that is, she had forgotten her mood when
he started for Brescia, and the nature of the last instructions she had
given him. Revolting from the thought of execution being done upon Count
Ammiani, as one quickly springing out of fever dreams, all her white
face went into hard little lines, like the withered snow which
wears away in frost. "Yes," she said; and again, "Yes," to something
Weisspriess whispered in her ear, she knew not clearly what. Weisspriess
told Wilfrid that he would wait below. As he quitted the room, the
duchess entered, and went up to Anna. "My good soul," she said, "you
have, I trust, listened to Major Weisspriess. Oh, Anna! you wanted
revenge. Now take it, as becomes a high-born woman; and let your enemy
come to your feet, and don't spurn her when she is there. Must I inform
you that I have been to Countess d'Isorella myself with a man who can
compel her to speak? But Anna von Lenkenstein is not base like that
Italian. Let them think of you as they will, I believe you to have a
great heart. I am sure you will not allow personal sentiment to sully
your devotion to our country. Show them that our Austrian faces can be
bright; and meet her whom you call your enemy; you cannot fly. You
must see her, or you betray yourself. The poor creature's husband is in
danger of capture or death."

While the duchess's stern under-breath ran on hurriedly, convincing Anna
that she had, with no further warning, to fall back upon her uttermost
strength--the name of Countess Alessandra Ammiani was called at the
door. Instinctively the others left a path between Vittoria and Anna. It
was one of the moments when the adoption of a decisive course says more
in vindication of conduct than long speeches. Anna felt that she was
on her trial. For the first time since she had looked on this woman she
noticed the soft splendour of Vittoria's eyes, and the harmony of her
whole figure; nor was the black dress of protesting Italian mourning
any longer offensive in her sight, but on a sudden pitiful, for Anna
thought: "It may at this very hour be for her husband, and she not
knowing it." And with that she had a vis