And when they were entering the restaurant a telegram was put into Canon Ebley’s hand—­it was from the Rev. Eustace Medlicott, sent from Turin, saying he would join them in Rome the following evening.

“Eustace has been preparing this delightful surprise—­I knew of it,” the Aunt Caroline said, with conscious pride, “but I would not tell you, Stella, dear, in case something might prevent it.  I feared to disappoint you.”

“Thank you, aunt,” Miss Rawson said without too much enthusiasm, and took her seat where she could see the solitary occupant of a small table, surrounded by the obsequious waiters, already sipping his champagne.

He had not looked up as they passed.  Nor did he appear once to glance in their direction.  His whole manner was full of the same reflective calm as the night before.  And, for some unaccountable reason, Stella Rawson’s heart sank down lower and lower, until at the end of the repast she looked pale and tired out.

Eustace, her betrothed, would be there on the morrow, and such things as drives in motor cars with strange Russian counts were only dreams and not realities, she now felt.

CHAPTER III

Next morning it fell about that Stella Rawson was allowed to go into the Musso Nazionale in the Diocletian baths, accompanied only by Martha, her uncle and aunt having decided they would take a rest and write their English letters.  The museum was so near, a mere hundred yards, there could be no impropriety in their niece’s going there with Martha, even in an exhibition year in Rome.

Stella was still suffering from a nameless sense of depression.  Eustace’s train would get in at about five o’clock, and he would accompany them to the Embassy.  A cousin of her own and Aunt Caroline’s was one of the secretaries, and had already been written to about the invitation.  So that even if Count Roumovski should be presented to her, and make the whole thing proper and correct, she would have no chance of any conversation.  The brilliant sunlight felt incongruous and hurt her, and she was glad to enter the shady ancient baths.  She had glanced furtively to right and left in the hotel as she came through the hall, but saw no one who resembled the Russian, and they had walked so quickly through the vestibule she had not remarked a tall figure coming from the staircase, nor had seen him give some rapid order to a respectful servant who was waiting about, and who instantly followed them:  but if she had looked up as she paid for the two tickets at the barrier of the museum, she would have seen this same lean man turn swiftly round and retreat in the direction of the hotel.

Martha was sulky and comatose on this very warm morning; she took no interest in sculpture.  “Them naked creatures,” she called any masterpiece undraped—­and she resented being dragged out by Miss Stella, who always had fancies for art.