Sabina was not of that kind; she was only very young, which, as Pitt
pointed out, is a disadvantage but not a real crime.
They walked side by side, almost touching as they moved; they were
drawn one to another, as all nature draws together those pairs of
helpless atoms that are destined to one end.
Old Sassi went gravely with them. To him, it was a sad thing to see
Sabina come to the palace in a way almost clandestine, as if she had
no right there, and he shook his head again and again, silently
grieving over the departed glory of the Conti, and wishing that he
could express his sympathy to the young girl in dignified yet tender
language. But Sabina was not in need of sympathy just then. Life in
the Volterra establishment had been distinctly more bearable since
Malipieri's appearance on the scene, and her old existence in the
palace had been almost as really gloomy as it now seemed to her to
have been. Moreover, she was intensely interested in what Malipieri
was going to shew her.
Masin was waiting at the head of the winding stair with lanterns
already lighted. When they had all entered, he turned the key. Sassi
asked why he did this, and as they began to go down Malipieri
explained that it was a measure of safety against the old porter's
curiosity.
Sabina stepped carefully on the damp steps, while Malipieri held his
lantern very low so that she could see them.
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