egally my heir-apparent, (though
morally always the head of our house), I can, I am informed, make the
estates over to you by entering a Religious Order, and taking vows of
celibacy for life. The small fortune which I have inherited from my
mother will provide me with the dowry necessary to this step.

"Most Illustrious Sir and dear Cousin, it would give me great pleasure
to make the acquaintance of your Excellency, and to do homage to the
Chief of the House of San Guido, before my retirement from the world.
The good Father Angelo, who bears this letter, who has my full
confidence and approves of my purpose, will bring me your Excellency's
answer, to say if and when you will honour me with your presence at
Isola Nobile.

"I beg leave to subscribe myself. Most Illustrious Sir and dear
Cousin, with sentiments of distinguished respect and affection, of your
Lordship's Excellency the good cousin,

"S. del Valdeschi della Spina,
Contessa di Sampaolo."

"Al Illmo. Signore, S. E. il Conte di Sampaolo,
Alla Villa del Ponte, Vallanza."

Anthony, his cousin's letter held at arm's length, turned to the
white-bearded Capuchin, where he stood in his brown habit, patiently
waiting, with his clasped hands covered by his sleeves.

"My dear Father," he said, speaking quickly, his face white, his eyes
troubled, "the Countess tells me that you have her full confidence and
approve her purpose. But do you _know_ what purpose she has intimated
here?"

"Yes," said Father Angelo, calmly, bowing his head.

"But then," Anthony hurried on, his excitement unconcealed, "it is
impossible you should approve it--it is impossible any one should
approve it. She must be stopped. The thing she proposes to do is out
of all reason. I cannot allow it. Her friends must not allow it. Her
friends must prevent it."

"The thing she proposes to do is an act of simple justice," said the
Father, in his soft voice.

Anthony waved his arms, intolerantly.

"Simple justice--or simple madness," he said, "it is a thing that must
not even be discussed. She is twenty-two years old--she is a
child--she is irresponsible--she does n't, she can't, know what she is
doing. She proposes to impoverish herself, to condemn herself to a
convent for life, and, so far as one can see, without the slightest
vocation. Her friends must restrain her."

"She is not a person easily restrained, when she has made up her mind,"
said the Father, quietly.

"At al