They talked and smoked, while Mr. Redmayne became reminiscent and amused himself with memories of the past.  He forgot his present disquiet amid these recollections and chatted amiably of his earliest days in Australia and his subsequent, successful career as a bookseller and dealer.

Jenny presently joined them and all entered the dining-room together, where tea was served.

“He will be going out soon now,” whispered Albert’s niece to Brendon; and he knew that she referred to her husband.  Mr. Redmayne still declined to eat or drink.

“I did both to excess yesterday,” he said, “and must rest my ill-used stomach until to-morrow.”

He was chiefly concerned with Doria and had prepared for him various messages to bookmen in Turin.  They sat long and the shadows were lengthening before the old man returned to his apartments.  Then Giuseppe made a final and humorous appeal to Mark to influence Jenny in favour of the automobiles and presently lit one of his Tuscan cigars, took his hat and left the house.

“At last!” whispered Jenny, her face lighting in relief.  “He will be gone for a good two hours now and we can talk.”

“Not here, then,” Mark answered.  “Let us go into the garden.  Then I can see when the man comes back.”

They proceeded into the gathering dusk and presently sat together on a marble seat under an ilex, so near the entrance that none might arrive without their knowledge.

Presently Ernesto came and turned on an electric bulb that hung over the scrolled iron work of the outer gate.  Then they were alone again, and the woman threw off all shadow of reserve and restraint.

“Thank God you can listen at last,” she said, then poured out a flood of entreaties.  He was swept from every mental hold, drowned in the torrent of her petitions, baffled and bewildered at one moment, filled with joy in the next.

“Save me,” she implored, “for only you can do so.  I am not worthy of your love and you may well have ceased to care for me or even respect me; but I can still respect myself, because I know well enough now that I was the innocent victim of this accursed man.  It was not natural love that made me follow him and wed him; it was a power that he possesses—­a magnetic thing—­what they call the ’evil eye’ in Italy.  I have been cruelly and wickedly wronged and I do not deserve all that I have suffered, for it was the magic of hypnotism or some kindred devilry that made me see him falsely and deceived and drove me.

“From the time my uncle died at ‘Crow’s Nest’ Doria has controlled me.  I did not know it then, or I would have killed myself rather than sink to be the creature of any man.  I thought it was love and so I married him; then the trick became apparent and he cared not how soon my eyes were opened.  But I must leave him if I am to remain a sane woman.”

For an hour she spoke and detailed all she had been called upon to endure, while he listened with absorbed interest.  She often touched Brendon’s shoulder, often clasped his hand.  Once she kissed it in gratitude, as he promised to dedicate every thought and energy to her salvation.  Her breath brushed his cheek, his arm was round her as she sobbed.