“Duchessa,” he said, “the happiest day I can remember was when I brought home my wife to Saracinesca.  My proudest day will be that on which my son enters the same gates with you by his side.”

He took her hand and raised it to his lips, with a courteous gesture.

“It will be long before that—­it must be very long,” answered Corona.

“It shall be when you please, Madam, provided it is at last.  Meanwhile we will come down to-morrow, and take you to our tower.  Do you understand now why I said that I hoped you would come again and stay longer?  I trust you have not changed your mind in regard to the excursion.”

“No.  We will expect you to-morrow night.  Remember, I have been honest with you—­I trust to you to be silent.”

“You have my word.  And now, with your permission, I will return to Saracinesca.  Believe me, the news that you expect us will be good enough to tell Giovanni.”

“You may greet him from me.  But will you not rest awhile before you ride back?  You must be tired.”

“No fear of that!” answered the Prince.  “You have put a new man into an old one.  I shall never tire of bearing the news of your greetings.”

So the old man left her, and mounted his horse and rode up the pass.  But Corona remained for hours in the vaulted hall, pacing up and down.  It had come too soon—­far too soon.  And yet, how she had longed for it! how she had wondered whether it would ever come at all!

The situation was sufficiently strange, too.  Giovanni had once told her of his love, and she had silenced him.  He was to tell her again, and she was to accept what he said.  He was to ask her to marry him, and her answer was a foregone conclusion.  It seemed as though this greatest event of her life were planned to the very smallest details beforehand; as though she were to act a part which she had studied, and which was yet no comedy because it was the expression of her life’s truth.  The future had been, as it were, prophesied and completely foretold to her, and held no surprises; and yet it was more sweet to think of than all the past together.  She wondered how he would say it, what his words would be, how he would look, whether he would again be as strangely violent as he had been that night at the Palazzo Frangipani.  She wondered, most of all, how she would answer him.  But it would be long yet.  There would be many meetings, many happy days before that happiest day of all.

Sister Gabrielle saw a wonderful change in Corona’s face that afternoon when they drove up the valley together, and she remarked what wonderful effect a little variety had upon her companion’s spirits—­she could not say upon her health, for Corona seemed made of velvet and steel, so smooth and dark, and yet so supple and strong.  Corona smiled brightly as she looked far up at the beetling crags behind which Saracinesca was hidden.

“We shall be up there the day after to-morrow,” she said.  “How strange it will seem!” And leaning back, her deep eyes flashed, and she laughed happily.