The Pope should have the treasure. That was settled, and the only
question remaining concerned the means of transferring it to him when
it was discovered.
CHAPTER IX
One evening it chanced that the Volterra couple were dining out, and
that Sabina, having gone up to her room to spend the evening, had
forgotten the book she was reading and came downstairs half-an-hour
later to get it. She opened the drawing-room door and went straight to
the table on which she had left the volume. As she turned to go back
she started and uttered a little cry, almost of terror.
Malipieri was standing before the mantelpiece, looking at her.
"I am afraid I frightened you," he said quietly. "Pray forgive me."
"Not at all," Sabina answered, resting the book she held in her hand
upon the edge of the table. "I did not know any one was here."
"I said I would wait till the Senator came home," Malipieri said.
"Yes." Sabina hesitated a moment and then sat down.
She smiled, perhaps at herself. In her mother's house it would have
been thought extremely improper for her to be left alone with a young
man during ten minutes, but she knew that the Baroness held much more
modern views, and would probably be delighted that she and Malipieri
should spend an hour together. He had been asked to luncheon again,
but had declined on the ground of being too busy, much to the
Baroness's annoyance.
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