Sabina’s face fell and the eagerness faded from her eyes instantly.  She had often heard the story from her nurses when she had been a little girl, and she did not believe a word of it, any more than she believed that the marble statue of Cardinal Conti in the library really came down from its pedestal on the eve of All Souls’ and walked through the state apartments, or the myth about the armour of Francesco Conti, of which the nurses used to tell her that on the anniversary of the night of his murder his eyes could be seen through the bars of the helmet, glowing with the infernal fire.  As for any hidden treasure, she was quite positive that if it existed her brother and sister would have got at it long ago.  Malipieri sank in her estimation as soon as he mentioned it.  He was only a Venetian, of course, and could not be expected to know much about Rome, but he must be very weak-minded if he could be imposed upon by such nonsense.  Her delicate lip curled with a little contempt.

“Is that the great secret?” she asked.  “I thought you were in earnest.”

“The Senator is,” observed Malipieri drily.

“If the old gentleman has made you believe that he is, he must have some very deep scheme.  He does not like to seem foolish.”

Malipieri did not answer at once, but he betrayed no annoyance.  In the short silence, he could hear the Baroness’s powerful voice yelling at the telephone.  It ceased suddenly, and he guessed that she was coming back.

“If I find anything, I wish you to see it before any one else does,” he said quickly.

“That would be very amusing!” Sabina laughed incredulously, just as the door opened.

The Baroness heard the light laughter, and stood still with her hand on the latch, as if she had forgotten something.  She was not a woman of sudden intuitions nor much given to acting on impulses, and when a new idea crossed her mind she almost always paused to think it over, no matter what she chanced to be doing.  It was as if she had accidentally run against something which stunned her a little.

“What is it?” asked Sabina, very naturally.

The Baroness beckoned silently to her, and she rose.

“Only one moment, Signor Malipieri,” said the Baroness, apologizing for leaving him alone.

When she and Sabina were out of the room, she shut the door and went on a few paces before speaking.

“My husband has telephoned that he cannot leave the Senate,” she said.

“Well?” Sabina did not understand.

“But Malipieri has come expressly to see him.”

“He can see him at the Senate,” suggested Sabina.

“But I have asked Malipieri to stay to luncheon.  If I tell him that my husband is not coming, perhaps he will not stay after all.”

“Perhaps not,” echoed Sabina with great calmness.

“You do not seem to care,” said the Baroness.

“Why should I?”