“Oh, I know,” answered Flavia, with sudden seriousness.  “I know.  But poor papa—­you see—­I am afraid—­”

She stopped significantly and shook her head, evidently implying that Prince Montevarchi’s chances of blessedness were but slender.

“Flavia!” cried Faustina indignantly, “how can you say such things!”

“Oh, I say nothing, and besides, I daresay—­you see he was sometimes very kind.  It was only yesterday, for instance, that he actually promised me those earrings—­you know, Faustina, the pearl drops at Civilotti’s—­it is true, they were not so very big after all.  He really said he would give them to me as a souvenir if—­oh!  I forgot.”

She stopped with some embarrassment, for she had been on the point of saying that the earrings were to be a remembrance if the suit were won, when she recollected that she was speaking to Corona.

“Well—­it would have been very kind of him if he had,” she added.  “Perhaps that is something.  Poor papa!  One would feel more sure about it, if he had got some kind of absolution.”

“I do not believe you cared for him at all!” exclaimed Faustina.  Corona evidently shared this belief, for she looked very grave and was silent.

“Oh, Faustina, how unkind you are!” cried Flavia in great astonishment and some anger.  “I am sure I loved poor papa as much as any of you, and perhaps a great deal better.  We were always such good friends!”

Faustina raised her eyebrows a little and looked at Corona as though to say that her sister was hopeless, and for some minutes no one spoke.

“You are quite rested now?” asked Corona at last, turning to the young girl.  “Poor child! what you must have suffered!”

“It is strange, but I am not tired.  I slept, you know, for I was worn out.”

“Faustina’s grief did not keep her awake,” observed Flavia, willing to say something disagreeable.

“I only came to see how you were,” said Corona, who did not care to prolong the interview.  “I hope to hear that your mother is better to-morrow.  I met Saracinesca as I came in, but I did not ask him.”

“Your father-in-law?” asked Faustina innocently.  “I did not know he had been here.”

“No; your husband, my dear,” answered Corona, looking at Flavia as she spoke.  She was curious to see what effect the change had produced upon her.  Flavia’s cheeks flushed quickly, evidently with pleasure, if also with some embarrassment.  But Corona was calm and unmoved as usual.

“I did not know you already called him so,” said Flavia.  “How strange it will be!”

“We shall soon get used to it,” replied Corona, with a smile, as she rose to go.  “I wish you many years of happiness with your new name.  Good-bye.”  Faustina went with her into one of the outer rooms.

“Tell me,” she said, when they were alone, “how did your husband manage it so quickly?  They told me to-day that the cardinal had at first refused.  I cannot understand it.  I could not ask you before Flavia—­she is so inquisitive!”