She shivered at the thought, and looked into his dark eyes with fear and pity.  His lip curled a little disdainfully.

“Do you think that I shall run away?” he asked.

“You will not stay here, and let them arrest you!” cried Marietta anxiously.

“Your father left me here to take care of what belongs to him, and there is much that is valuable.  I thank you very much for warning me, but I know what your brother means to do, and I shall not go away of my own accord.  If he can have me taken off by force, he will come here alone and search the place.  If he searches long enough, he may find what he wants.”

“Is Paolo Godi’s manuscript in this room?” asked Marietta quietly.

Zorzi stared at her in surprise.

“How did you know that your father left it with me?” he asked.

“He would not have entrusted it to any one else.  That is natural.  My brother wants it.  Is that the reason why you will not escape?  Or is there any other?”

“That is the principal reason,” answered Zorzi.  “Another is that there is valuable glass here, which your brother would take.”

“Which he would steal,” said Marietta bitterly.  “But Pasquale can bury it in the garden after you are gone.  The principal thing is the book.  Give it to me.  I will take care of it till my father comes back.  Until then you must hide somewhere, for it is madness to stay here.  Give me the book, and let me take it away at once.”

“I cannot give it to you,” Zorzi said, with a puzzled expression which Marietta did not understand.

“You do not trust me,” she answered sadly.

He did not reply at once, for the words made no impression on him when he heard them.  He trusted her altogether, but there was a material difficulty in the way.  He remembered how long it had taken to hide the iron box under broken glass, and he knew how long it would take to get it out again.  Marietta could not stay in the laboratory, late into the night, and yet if she did not take the box with her now, she might not be able to take it at all, since neither she nor Nella could have carried it to the house by day, without being seen.

Marietta rested her elbow on the arm of the big chair, and her hand supported her chin, in an attitude of thought, as she looked steadily at Zorzi’s face, and her own was grave and sad.

“You never trusted me,” she said presently.  “Yet I have been a good friend to you, have I not?”

“A friend?  Oh, much more than that!” Zorzi turned his eyes from her.  “I trust you with all my heart.”

She shook her head incredulously.

“If you trusted me, you would do what I ask,” she said.  “I have risked something to help you—­perhaps to save your life—­who knows?  Do you know what would happen if my brother found me here alone with you?  I should end my life in a convent.  But if you will not save yourself, I might as well not have come.”