than half what they 've cost me, and
I 'll lay odds I never clap eyes on them again."

And in this suspicion the innkeeper proved, in the issue, to be
absolutely right, about the value of the luggage there is, however,
more room for doubt.

The second person who suffered a surprise was no less a man than the
Count of Fieramondi himself. But how this came about needs a little
more explanation.

In that very room through whose doorway Captain Dieppe had first beheld
the lady whom he now worshipped with a devotion as ardent as it was
unhappy, there were now two ladies engaged in conversation. One sat in
an arm-chair, nursing the yellow cat of which mention has been made
earlier in this history; the other walked up and down with every
appearance of weariness, trouble, and distress on her handsome face.

"Oh, the Bishop was just as bad as the banker," she cried fretfully,
"and the banker was just as silly as the Bishop. The Bishop said that,
although he might have considered the question of giving me absolution
from a vow which I had been practically compelled to take, he could
hold out no prospect of my getting it beforehand for taking a vow which
I took with no other intention than that of breaking it."

"I told you he 'd say that before you went," observed the lady in the
arm-chair, who seemed to be treating the situation with a coolness in
strong contrast to her companion's agitation.

"And the banker said that although, if I had actually spent fifty
thousand lire more than I possessed, he would have done his best to see
how he could extricate me from the trouble, he certainly would not help
me to get fifty thousand for the express purpose of throwing them away."

"I thought the banker would say that," remarked the other lady,
caressing the cat.

"And they both advised me to take my husband's opinion on the matter.
My husband's opinion!" Her tone was bitter and tragic indeed. "I
suppose they 're right," she said, flinging herself dejectedly into a
chair. "I must tell Andrea everything. Oh, and he 'll forgive me!"

"Well, I should think it's rather nice being forgiven."

"Oh, no, not by Andrea!" The faintest smile flitted for an instant
across her face. "Oh, no, Andrea does n't forgive like that. His
forgiveness is very--well, horribly biblical, you know. Oh, I 'd
better not have gone to Rome at all!"

"I never saw any good in your going to Rome, you know."

"Yes, I must tell him everything. Becau