took her to Rome?"

"She does n't like to be asked much about it," began the Countess, with
a prudent air.

"I 'm sure I don't want to pry into her affairs, but--"

"No, I knew you would n't want to do that, Andrea."

"Still, my dear, it 's really a little odd. She left only four days
ago. Now she 's back, and--"

The Count broke off, looking rather distressed. Such proceedings,
accompanied by such mystery, were not, to his mind, quite the proper
thing for a young and unmarried lady.

"I won't ask her any questions," he went on, "but I suppose she 's told
you, Emilia?"

"Oh, yes, she 's told me," said the Countess, hastily.

"And am I to be excluded from your confidence?"

The Countess put her arms round his neck.

"Well, you know, Andrea," said she, "you do sometimes scoff at
religion--well, I mean you talk rather lightly sometimes, you know."

"Oh, she went on a religious errand, did she?"

"Yes," the Countess answered in a more confident tone. "She
particularly wanted to consult the Bishop of Mesopotamia. She believes
in him very much. Oh, so do I. I do believe, Andrea, that if you knew
the Bishop of--"

"My dear, I don't want to know the Bishop of Mesopotamia; but Lucia is
perfectly at liberty to consult him as much as she pleases. I don't
see any need for mystery."

"No, neither do I," murmured the Countess. "But dear Lucia is--is so
sensitive, you know."

"I remember seeing him about Rome very well. I must ask Lucia whether
he still wears that--"

"Really, the less you question Lucia about her journey the better, dear
Andrea," said the Countess, in a tone which was very affectionate, but
also marked by much decision. And there can be no doubt she spoke the
truth, from her own point of view, at least. "Would n't it be kind to
send for her now?" she added. In fact the Countess found this
interview, so gratifying and delightful in its main aspect, rather
difficult in certain minor ways, and Lucia would be a convenient ally.
It was much better, too, that they should talk about one another in one
another's presence. That is always more straightforward; and, in this
case, it would minimise the chances of a misunderstanding in the
future. For instance, if Lucia showed ignorance about the Bishop of
Mesopotamia--! "Do let's send for Lucia," the Countess said again,
coaxingly; and the Count, after a playful show of unwillingness to end
their tete-a-tete, at last consented.

But here w