that were certain, could he—­Tito—­see the price of the gems lying before him, and say, “I will stay at Florence, where I am fanned by soft airs of love and prosperity; I will not risk myself for his sake?” No, surely not if it were certain.  But the galley had been taken by a Turkish vessel; that was known by the report of the companion galley which had escaped; and there had been resistance and probable bloodshed, a man had been seen falling overboard.

He quieted his conscience with such reasonings as these, and when definite tidings reached him that his father was still a prisoner, he contrived to keep the knowledge to himself, and still did nothing.  The death of the exhausted, emaciated monk who had brought these tidings freed him of one fear; but this monk was Romola’s brother, Dino, and obeying his summons she had been in secret to see him as he lay dying.

“Romola,” her brother began to speak, “in the deep night, as I lay awake, I saw my father’s room, and I saw you ...  And at the leggio where I used to stand stood a man whose face I could not see.  I saw him move and take thee, Romola, by the hand, and then I saw thee take my father by the hand, and you all three went down the stone steps into the streets, the man, whose face was a blank to me, leading the way.  And you stood at the altar of Santa Croce, and the priest who married you had the face of death; and the graves opened and the dead in their shrouds followed you like a bridal train.  And it seemed to me that at last you came to a stony place where there was no water, and no trees or herbage; but instead of water I saw written parchment unrolling itself everywhere, and instead of trees and herbage I saw men of bronze and marble springing up and crowding round you.  And my father was faint, and fell to the ground; and the man loosed thy hand and departed; and as he went I could see his face, and it was the face of the Great Tempter....  Thrice have I had that vision, Romola.  I believe it is a revelation meant for thee—­to warn thee against marriage as a temptation of the enemy....”

The words died away.

“Frate,” said the dying voice.  “Give her——­”

“The crucifix,” said the voice of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, who was standing in the shadows behind her.

“Dino!” said Romola, with a low but piercing cry.

“Take the crucifix, my daughter,” said Fra Girolamo, after a few minutes.  “His eyes behold it no more.”

* * * * *

But, heedless of the distrust and opposition of Messer Bernardo del Nero, and with this vision of Dino’s menacing his highest hope, Tito went gaily on his triumphant way.

Also he had renewed acquaintance with the little Tessa.  He came upon her in the thronged streets during carnival time, and seeing her, a timorous, tearful little contadin, terrified by the burlesque threats of a boisterous conjurer, took her under his protection.