He was interrupted by the arrival of the doctor, who asked him what was the matter, and was at once led in by him.  Regina withdrew to a little distance in the direction of the church and waited.  The doctor had come in a cab, and in a few moments she saw Marcello carried out and placed in it.  Then she walked as fast as she could towards the church, quite sure that the cab would stop at the door of the hospital, and anxious to be within sight of it.  Everything had turned out well, even beyond her expectations.  The cab passed her at a brisk pace before she reached the top of the hill, and though she walked as fast as she could, it was no longer there when she had gone far enough to see the door.  The doctor, who was a busy man, had handed Marcello over to the men on duty at the entrance, with an order he had pencilled on his card while driving up, and had gone on at once.  But Regina was convinced that Marcello was there, as she hurried forward.

A man in blue linen clothes and a laced cap stopped her on the steps and asked what she wanted.

“A young man has just been brought here, very ill,” she explained, “and I want to see him.”

“A very young man?  Fair?  Thin?  From the Campagna?  In rags?”

“Yes.  I want to see him.”

“You can see him to-morrow, if he is alive,” answered the orderly in a business-like tone.

“To-morrow?” repeated Regina, in a tone of profound disappointment.

“To-morrow is Sunday.  Friends and relatives can visit patients on Sundays between nine and four.”

“But he has no other friends,” pleaded Regina.  “Please, please let me go to him!”

“To-morrow between nine and four.”

“No, no—­to-day—­now—­he knows me—­my name is Regina.”

“Not if you were the Queen of the world,” answered the orderly, jesting with perfect calm.  “You must have a written order from the Superintendent.”

“Yes, yes!  Let me see him!”

“You can see him on Mondays between ten and twelve.”

“The day after to-morrow?” cried Regina in despair.

“Yes, between ten and twelve, the day after to-morrow.”

“But I may come to-morrow without an order?”

“Yes.  Friends and relatives can visit patients on Sundays between nine and four.”

The man’s imperturbability was exasperating, and Regina, who was not patient, felt that if she stayed any longer she should try to take him by the collar, shake him, and force her way in.  But she was much too sensible to do anything so rash.  There was no choice but to go away.

“Thank you,” she said, as she turned to go down the steps.

“You are welcome,” the man answered very civilly, for he was watching her and was reflecting that he had never seen such a face and figure before.