ders dubiously
out of the corner of her eye; then she glanced momentarily into the hall
where the jailor was visible, his face flattened against the bars of an
open window; and from him to her father, still deep in the columns of his
paper, oblivious to both time and place. She crossed to Tony and stood at
his side peering down at the scene below.

"I don't suppose it will interest you," she said in an off-hand tone, her
eyes still intent on the crowd, "but I got a letter this morning from a
young man who is stopping at the Sole d' Oro in Riva--a very rude letter
I thought."

He whirled about.

"You know!"

"It struck me that the person who wrote it was in a temper and might
afterwards be sorry for having hurt my feelings, and so"--she raised her
eyes momentarily to his--"the invitation is still open."

"Tell me," there was both entreaty and command in his tone, "did you know
the truth before you wrote that letter?"

"You mean, did I know whom I was inviting? Assuredly! Do you think it
would have been dignified to write such an informal invitation to a
person I did not know?"

She turned away quickly and laid her hand on her father's shoulder.

"Come, Dad, don't you think we ought to be going? Poor Tony wants to read
the paper himself."

Mr. Wilder came back to the jail and his companions with a start.

"Oh, eh, yes, I think perhaps we ought. If they don't let you out this
afternoon, Tony, I'll make matters lively for 'em, and if there's
anything you need send word by Gustavo--I'll be back later." He fished in
his pockets and brought up a handful of cigars. "Here's something better
than lemon jelly, and they're not from the tobacco shop in Valedolmo
either."

He dropped them on the table and turned toward the door; Constance
followed with a backward glance.

"Good-bye, Tony; don't despair. Remember that it's always darkest before
the dawn, and that whatever others think, Costantina and I believe in
you. _We_ know that you are incapable of telling anything but the truth!"
She had almost reached the door when she became aware of the flowers in
her hand; she hurried back. "Oh, I forgot! Costantina sent these with
her--with--" She faltered; her audacity did not go quite that far.

Tony reached for them. "With what?" he insisted.

She laughed; and a second later the door closed behind her. He stood
staring at the door till he heard the key turn in the lock, then he
looked down at the flowers in his hand. A