that Marcello Botti
comes from Rocca di Papa?"

"Oh, yes," answered Regina readily. "You may say that, if you like."

As a matter of fact she did not care what he wrote in his big book, and
he might as well write one name as another, so far as she was concerned.

"But I never saw him there," she added by an afterthought. "There are
many people of that name in our village, but I never saw him. Perhaps
you had better say that he came from Albano."

"Why from Albano?" asked the Superintendent, surprised.

"It is a bigger place," explained Regina quite naturally.

"Then I might as well write 'Rome' at once?"

"Yes. Why not? If you must put down the name of a town in the book, you
had better write a big one. You will be less likely to be found out if
you have made a mistake."

"I see," said the Superintendent, smiling. "I am much obliged for your
advice. And now, if you will come with me, you shall see Botti. He has a
room by himself and is very well cared for."

The orderlies and nurses who came and went about the hospital glanced
with a little discreet surprise at the handsome peasant girl who
followed the Superintendent, but she paid no attention to them and
looked straight before her, at the back of his head; for her heart was
beating faster than if she had run a mile uphill.

Marcello put out his arms when he saw her enter, and returning life sent
a faint colour to his emaciated cheeks.

"Regina--at last!" he cried in a stronger and clearer tone than she had
ever heard him use.

A splendid blush of pleasure glowed in her own face as she ran forward
and leaned over him, smoothing the smooth pillow unconsciously, and
looking down into his eyes.

The Superintendent observed that Marcello certainly had no difficulty in
recalling the girl's name, whatever might have become of his own during
his illness. What Regina answered was not audible, but she kissed
Marcello's eyes, and then stood upright beside the bed, and laughed a
little.

"What can I do?" she asked. "It is a passion! When I see him, I see
nothing else. And then, I saved his life. Are you glad that Regina saved
your life?" She bent down again, and her gentle hand played with
Marcello's waving fair hair. "What should you have done without Regina?"

"I should have died," Marcello answered happily.

With much more strength than she had been used to find in him, he threw
his arms round her neck and drew her face down to his.

The Superintendent sp