After arranging for the hour of meeting Orsino rose to take his leave.

“May I come to-morrow?” he asked.  “People will not talk about that,” he added with a smile.

“You can ask for me.  I may be out.  If I am at home, I shall be glad to see you.”

She spoke coldly, and Orsino saw that she was looking over his shoulder.  He turned instinctively and saw that the door was open and Spicca was standing just outside, looking in and apparently waiting for a word from Maria Consuelo before entering.

CHAPTER XIX.

As Orsino had no reason whatever for avoiding Spicca he naturally waited a moment instead of leaving the room immediately.  He looked at the old man with a new interest as the latter came forward.  He had never seen and probably would never see again a man taking the hand of a woman whose husband he had destroyed.  He stood a little back and Spicca passed him as he met Maria Consuelo.  Orsino watched the faces of both.

Madame d’Aranjuez put out her hand mechanically and with evident reluctance, and Orsino guessed that but for his own presence she would not have given it.  The expression in her face changed rapidly from that which had been there when they had been alone, hardening very quickly until it reminded Orsino of a certain mask of the Medusa which had once made an impression upon his imagination.  Her eyes were fixed and the pupils grew small while the singular golden yellow colour of the iris flashed disagreeably.  She did not bend her head as she silently gave her hand.

Spicca, too, seemed momentarily changed.  He was as pale and thin as ever, but his face softened oddly; certain lines which contributed to his usually bitter and sceptical expression disappeared, while others became visible which changed his look completely.  He bowed with more deference than he affected with other women, and Orsino fancied that he would have held Maria Consuelo’s hand a moment longer, if she had not withdrawn it as soon as it had touched his.

If Orsino had not already known that Spicca often saw her, he would have been amazed at the count’s visit, considering what she had said of the man.  As it was, he wondered what power Spicca had over her to oblige her to receive him, and he wondered in vain.  The conclusion which forced itself before him was that Spicca was the person who imposed the serving woman upon Maria Consuelo.  But her behaviour towards him, on the other hand, was not that of a person obliged by circumstances to submit to the caprices and dictation of another.  Judging by the appearance of the two, it seemed more probable that the power was on the other side, and might be used mercilessly on occasion.

“I hope I am not disturbing your plans,” said Spicca, in a tone which was almost humble, and very unlike his usual voice.  “Were you going out together?”

He shook hands with Orsino, avoiding his glance, as the young man thought.