When her tale was finished:All this is nothing,
said Vanina: I have done more, in my love foryou.
You and I are the only two people in Rome whoknow
this secret. Immediately on Vaninasarrival, he spoke to her of this marriage, in
fear and trembling.
Missirilli made haste to bind himself by this
utterance. TheRalstons were of middle-class English stock. On reading the name
again, she felt as thoughshe must faint. He saw her nextday; she loved him still as
in Rome.
The sole exception was Pietro Missirilli. An hour
later, she was on her way to Rome. The slowcourse of events was killing her. Vanina
reflected that, by first of all turning his head,she might make a useful agent of
him.
This man was a carbonaro, and she had never known
it. Missi-rilli responded to thesetears like a man preoccupied with other
things.
Will you be able tolove a girl who has lost her
honour? It is no small matter in Rome to be the confessor of aPrincess, who is the
Governors niece.
No one can doubtmy devotion to the conspiracy. I
undertake to obtain my fathers consent. Why has my absence then furnished grounds
for themost cruel suspicions? They were the gaoler and Missirilli, so loaded with
chains as to bealmost smothered in them. He would be too much afraid of the
satiricalcomment of his colleagues.
They were the gaoler and Missirilli, so loaded with
chains as to bealmost smothered in them.
After the man had left them, Pietro remained
pensive for a momentonly. SoMissirilli had secrets from her, even in these matters
of detail.
The young man said to him with a laugh:Why,
Monsignor, do not you recognise Vanina Vanini?
When her tale was finished:All this is nothing,
said Vanina: I have done more, in my love foryou.
Her father had long beenpressing her to
return.
A moment later the Ministertook a chocolate drop
from a comfit box.
And she took her seat calmly upon a
sofa.
He then withdrew to the other end ofthe chapel, by
the door.
As they left the palace of the Governor of
Rome,Vanina permitted Don Livio to embrace her. She said to herself:The carbonari
have had several thousands from me. Evidently the wretch whoflung himself down the
well. My lot henceforward is to dare all, Vanina continued with a sigh. Frederick
John listened, obeyed, married a Halsey, and passively followedin his fathers steps.