He laid his head down against her knee and covered his face. In the
silence she bent over him, her hand on the black head. So the time
slipped on and on; and they neither moved nor spoke.

"Dear, it is almost twelve," she said at last. He raised his head.

"We have only a few minutes more; Martini will be back presently.
Perhaps we shall never see each other again. Have you nothing to say to
me?"

He slowly rose and walked away to the other side of the room. There was
a moment's silence.

"I have one thing to say," he began in a hardly audible voice; "one
thing--to tell you----"

He stopped and sat down by the window, hiding his face in both hands.

"You have been a long time deciding to be merciful," she said softly.

"I have not seen much mercy in my life; and I thought--at first--you
wouldn't care----"

"You don't think that now."

She waited a moment for him to speak and then crossed the room and stood
beside him.

"Tell me the truth at last," she whispered. "Think, if you are killed
and I not--I should have to go through all my life and never know--never
be quite sure----"

He took her hands and clasped them tightly.

"If I am killed---- You see, when I went to South America---- Ah,
Martini!"

He broke away with a violent start and threw open the door of the room.
Martini was rubbing his boots on the mat.

"Punctual to the m-m-minute, as usual! You're an an-n-nimated
chronometer, Martini. Is that the r-r-riding-cloak?"

"Yes; and two or three other things. I have kept them as dry as I could,
but it's pouring with rain. You will have a most uncomfortable ride, I'm
afraid."

"Oh, that's no matter. Is the street clear?"

"Yes; all the spies seem to have gone to bed. I don't much wonder
either, on such a villainous night. Is that coffee, Gemma? He ought to
have something hot before he goes out into the wet, or he will catch
cold."

"It is black coffee, and very strong. I will boil some milk."

She went into the kitchen, passionately clenching her teeth and hands to
keep from breaking down. When she returned with the milk the Gadfly
had put on the riding-cloak and was fastening the leather gaiters which
Martini had brought. He drank a cup of coffee, standing, and took up the
broad-brimmed riding hat.

"I think it's time to start, Martini; we must make a round before we go
to the barrier, in case of anything. Good-bye, for the present, signora;
I shall meet you at Forli on Friday, then, unless