“It shall!” Marcello tried to put conviction into the words.  “It shall!  It shall!”

“It cannot, my heart,” she answered.  “I used to say that when this came, I would go away.  But I will not do that, unless you bid me to, for I think you would be sorry, and I should be giving you more pain, and you have enough.  Only leave me a little while alone, dear, for I am very tired, and it is growing late.”

He took her hands and kissed them one after the other, and looked into her face.  His own was very weary.

“Promise me that I shall find you here to-morrow,” he said.

“You shall find me,” she answered softly.

They parted so, and he left her alone, in the dark, for the glow of the sunset had faded and the early November evening was closing in.

Old Teresa came and brought a lamp, and drew the curtains, and gave her a message from Kalmon.  If she needed anything she was to send for him, and he would come at once.  She thanked Teresa.  It was very kind of the Professor, but she needed nothing.  Not even a fire; no, she hardly ever felt cold.  Teresa brought something to eat, and set the little table for her.  She was not hungry, and she was glad when the good soul was gone.

She could open the windows when she was alone, and look out into the silent street.  There was moonlight now, and it fell across the walls and trees of the Villa Aurora upon her face.  It was a young moon, that would set before midnight, but it was very clear and bright, and the sky was infinitely deep and very clear behind it.  Regina fancied that if there were really angels in heaven, she should be able to see them on such a night.

If she had been in Trastevere she would have gone out to walk up and down the old paved paths of the little garden, for she could not sleep, though she was so tired.  The lamp disturbed her and she put it out, and sat down by the window again.

It was very quiet now, for it was past nine o’clock.  She heard a step, and it almost surprised her.  A man with a big dog was walking in the shadow on the other side of the street, and when he was opposite the house he stood still and looked up at her window.  He did not move for some time, but the dog came out into the moonlight in a leisurely way, and lay down on the paving stones.  All dogs think it is warmer in the light than in the shadow.

Regina rose, got a long black cloak and a dark veil without lighting a candle, and put them on.  Then she went out.

CHAPTER XXI

Ercole walked on when he saw some one come out of No. 16, for he did not recognise Regina.  She followed him at a distance.  Even if he should pass where there might be many people, she would not lose sight of him easily because he had his dog with him.  She noticed that his canvas bag was hung over one shoulder and that it seemed to be full, and his gun was slung over the other.  He meant to