ndrea's cruelty had condemned her: and, yes, she would take the
oath--in fact any number of oaths--to hold no further communication
whatever with Paul de Roustache.

"Ah, your very offer is a reproach to me," said the Count, softly. "I
told you that now I ask no oath, that your promise was enough, that--"

"You told me?" exclaimed the Countess, with some appearance of surprise.

"Why, yes. At least I begged Dieppe to tell you in my name. Did n't
he?"

For a moment the Countess paused, engaged in rapid calculations, then
she said sweetly:

"Oh, yes, of course! But it's not the same as hearing it from your own
lips, Andrea."

"Where did you see him?" asked the Count. "Did he pass the barricade?
Ah, we 'll soon have that down, won't we?"

"Oh, yes, Andrea; do let 's have it down, because--"

"But where did you and Dieppe have your talk?"

"Oh--oh--down by the river, Andrea."

"He found you there?"

"Yes, he found me there, and--and talked to me."

"And gave you back the ring?" inquired the Count, tenderly.

The Countess took it from her pocket and handed it to her husband. "I
'd rather you 'd put it on yourself," she said.

The Count took her hand in his and placed the ring on her finger. It
fitted very well, indeed. There could be no doubt that it was made for
the hand on which it now rested. The Count kissed it as he set it
there.

At last, however, he found time to remember the obligations he was
under to his friend.

"But where can our dear Dieppe be?" he cried. "We owe so much to him."

"Yes, we do owe a lot to him," murmured the Countess. "But, Andrea--"

"Indeed, my darling, we must n't forget him. I must--"

"No, we must n't forget him. Oh, no, we won't. But, Andrea, I--I 've
got another piece of news for you." The Countess spoke with a little
timidity, as if she were trying delicate ground, and were not quite
sure of her footing.

"More news? What an eventful night!"

He took his wife's hand. Away went all thoughts of poor Dieppe again.

"Yes, it's so lucky, happening just to-night. Lucia has come back! An
hour ago!"

"Lucia come back!" exclaimed the Count, gladly. "That's good news,
indeed."

"It 'll delight her so much to find us--to find us like this again,
Andrea."

"Yes, yes, we must send for her. Is she in her room? And where has
she come from?"

"Rome," answered the Countess, again in a rather nervous way.

"Rome!" cried the Count in surprise. "What