t he
reached his home alive, and he had no sooner stepped from his carriage
than your husband put the finishing stroke to the series of atrocities
by breaking his nose. I do not say that this was a blow at the Church,
madam, but it was a violent blow at the authority of the Pope's
government. I take it that a blow which can break a man's nose is a
violent blow. That is the argument for the prosecution.'

Ortensia stared wildly at the colourless face and the steely eyes that
met her own.

'Happily,' the Cardinal went on, after a short but impressive pause, 'my
nephew does not know everything. There are some arguments for the
defence: that purse is a good one, madam, and the wound you have
received is better; my own universal knowledge fills the lacunae that are
left, so far as concerns what happened at the house in Via di Santa
Sabina. Two Bravi, who have undertaken to murder you, thought they could
earn an additional thousand crowns by selling you to my nephew, whose
admiration for you is unhappily a matter of notoriety. Their plan was
then to drive him away, after which one of them was to carry you off,
while the other remained behind to murder your husband. Fortunately for
you they quarrelled, you made your escape, and your excellent good sense
made you come directly to me, which, in the case of a lady of your noble
birth, is a clear proof of innocence. Moreover, I know it to be true
that the two Bravi were found fighting desperately in the street during
the night, but when the watch fell upon them to separate them they
turned their swords against the officers of the law and sent the
cowardly pack flying, though not one of the fellows had anything worse
than a pin-prick to show. Your former friends are very accomplished
swordsmen, madam! That is the argument for your defence, and it
satisfies me.'

'Thank heaven!' exclaimed Ortensia, whose face had relaxed while he had
been speaking. 'Then my husband will be let out, after all!'

'That depends on His Holiness, not on me,' answered the churchman. 'It
may depend on your husband himself. Your friends'--he emphasised the
word with a cool smile--'your friends the Bravi are responsible for
everything except my nephew's broken nose, but that is a serious matter
enough. Bertini'--he turned to the secretary--'you may go. I wished you
to hear what I have just said. Order one of my own chairs to be ready to
take this lady to the palace in five minutes.'

Bertini bowed and