‘Can you read Italian?’ she asked, handing the leaf to Agnes.

Agnes answered silently by an inclination of her head.

‘The leaf,’ the Countess proceeded, ’once belonged to a book in the old library of the palace, while this building was still a palace.  By whom it was torn out you have no need to know.  For what purpose it was torn out you may discover for yourself, if you will.  Read it first—­at the fifth line from the top of the page.’

Agnes felt the serious necessity of composing herself.  ‘Give me a chair,’ she said to Henry; ‘and I will do my best.’  He placed himself behind her chair so that he could look over her shoulder and help her to understand the writing on the leaf.  Rendered into English, it ran as follows:—­

I have now completed my literary survey of the first floor of the palace.  At the desire of my noble and gracious patron, the lord of this glorious edifice, I next ascend to the second floor, and continue my catalogue or description of the pictures, decorations, and other treasures of art therein contained.  Let me begin with the corner room at the western extremity of the palace, called the Room of the Caryatides, from the statues which support the mantel-piece.  This work is of comparatively recent execution:  it dates from the eighteenth century only, and reveals the corrupt taste of the period in every part of it.  Still, there is a certain interest which attaches to the mantel-piece:  it conceals a cleverly constructed hiding-place, between the floor of the room and the ceiling of the room beneath, which was made during the last evil days of the Inquisition in Venice, and which is reported to have saved an ancestor of my gracious lord pursued by that terrible tribunal.  The machinery of this curious place of concealment has been kept in good order by the present lord, as a species of curiosity.  He condescended to show me the method of working it.  Approaching the two Caryatides, rest your hand on the forehead (midway between the eyebrows) of the figure which is on your left as you stand opposite to the fireplace, then press the head inwards as if you were pushing it against the wall behind.  By doing this, you set in motion the hidden machinery in the wall which turns the hearthstone on a pivot, and discloses the hollow place below.  There is room enough in it for a man to lie easily at full length.  The method of closing the cavity again is equally simple.  Place both your hands on the temples of the figures; pull as if you were pulling it towards you—­and the hearthstone will revolve into its proper position again.

‘You need read no farther,’ said the Countess.  ’Be careful to remember what you have read.’

She put back the page of vellum in her writing-desk, locked it, and led the way to the door.

‘Come!’ she said; ’and see what the mocking Frenchman called “The beginning of the end."’

Agnes was barely able to rise from her chair; she trembled from head to foot.  Henry gave her his arm to support her.  ‘Fear nothing,’ he whispered; ‘I shall be with you.’