t quite natural that the Count should go
there. But the spy, not having the password, crouched outside, and heard
from two that came out muttering, the next appointment for a meeting.
This was told to Countess Branciani, and in the meantime she heard from
the Austrian Governor that her husband had given in names of the
conspirators. She determined at once. 'Now may Christ and the Virgin help
me!'"

Emilia struck her knees, while tears started through her shut eyelids.
The exclamation must have been caught from her father, who liked not the
priests of his native land well enough to interfere between his English
wife and their child in such a matter as religious training.

"What happened?" said Wilfrid, vainly seeking for personal application in
this narrative.

"Listen!--Ah!" she fought with her tears, and said, as they rolled down
her face: "For a miserable thing one can not help, I find I must cry.
This is what she did. She told him she knew of the conspiracy, and asked
permission to join it, swearing that she was true to Italy. He said he
believed her.--Oh, heaven!--And for some time she had to beg and beg; but
to spare her he would not let her join. I cannot tell why--he gave her
the password for the neat meeting, and said that an old gold coin must be
shown. She must have coaxed it, though he was a strong man, who could
resist women. I suppose he felt that he had been unkind.--Were I Queen of
Italy he should stand for ever in a statue of gold!--The next appointed
night a spy entered among the conspirators, with the password and the
coin. Did I tell you the Countess had one child--a girl! She lives now,
and I am to know her. She is like her mother. That little girl was
playing down the stairs with her nurse when a band of Austrian soldiers
entered the hall underneath, and an officer, with his sword drawn, and
some men, came marching up in their stiff way--the machines! This officer
stooped to her, and before the nurse could stop her, made her say where
her father was. Those Austrians make children betray their parents! They
don't think how we grow up to detest them. Do I? Hate is not the word: it
burns so hot and steady with me. The Countess came out on the first
landing; she saw what was happening. When her husband was led out, she
asked permission to embrace him. The officer consented, but she had to
say to him, 'Move back,' and then, with her lips to her husband's cheek,
'Betray no more of them!' she whispered.