"Why must you leave Rome?" Sabina asked, at last, without turning her
face to him.
"I am not sure that I must. I said I might, that was all."
Sabina tapped the ground impatiently with her foot.
"Why 'may' you have to go, then?" she asked a little sharply.
"Volterra may be able to drive me away. He will try, because he is
afraid I may wish to get a share in the discovery."
"Oh! Then you will not leave Rome, unless you are driven away?"
Malipieri tried to see her eyes, but she looked steadily down at the
statue.
"No," he said. "Certainly not."
Sabina said nothing, but her expression changed and softened at once.
He could see that, even in the play of the shadows. She raised her
head, glanced at him, and moved to go on. After making a few steps in
the direction of the aperture she stopped suddenly as if listening.
Malipieri held his breath, and then he heard, too.
It was the unmistakable sound of water trickling faster and faster
over stones. For an instant his blood stood still. Then he set the
lamp down, grasped Sabina's wrist and hurried her along, carrying only
the lantern.
"Come as fast as you can," he said, controlling his voice.
She understood that there was danger and obeyed without losing her
head. As he helped her up through the hole in the vault, she felt
herself very light in his hands.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220