“Never!” echoed Marcello, like a child.  “Never, never, never!”

“Not even when your friends try to take me away from you, love, not even if they try to kill me, because they want you to marry Aurora, who is a rich girl, all dressed with silk and covered with jewels, like the image of the Madonna at Genazzano.  I am sure Aurora has yellow hair and blue eyes!”

“I don’t want any one but you,” answered Marcello, drawing her face nearer.

So the time passed, and it was to them as if there were no time.  Then the door opened again, and a very pale man in deep mourning was brought in by the Superintendent himself.  Regina rose and drew back a little, so that the shadow should not fall across Marcello’s face, and she fixed her eyes on the gentleman in black.

“This is the patient,” said the Superintendent in a low voice.

Corbario laid his hand nervously on his companion’s arm, and stood still for a moment, holding his breath and leaning forward a little, his gaze riveted on Marcello’s face.  Regina had never before seen a man transfixed with fear.

He moved a step towards the bed, and then another, forcing himself to go on.  Then Marcello turned his head and looked at him vacantly.  Regina heard the long breath Corbario drew, and saw his body straighten, as if relieved from a great burden.  He stood beside the bed, and put out his hand to take Marcello’s.

“Do you know me?” he asked; but even then his voice was unsteady.

Instead of answering, Marcello turned away to Regina.

“You promised that they should not tease me any more,” he said querulously.  “Make them go away!  I want to sleep.”

Regina came to his side at once, and faced the two men across the bed.

“What is all this for?” she asked, with a little indignation.  “You know that he cannot remember you, even if he ever saw you before.  Cannot you leave him in peace?  Come back after the operation.  Then he will remember you, if you really know him.”

“Who is this girl?” asked Corbario of the Superintendent.

“She took care of him when he had the fever, and she managed to get him here.  She has undoubtedly saved his life.”

At the words a beautiful blush coloured Regina’s cheeks, and her eyes were full of triumphant light; but at the same words Corbario’s still face darkened, and as if it had been a mask that suddenly became transparent, the girl saw another face through it, drawn into an expression of malignant and devilish hatred.

[Illustration:  “He moved A step towards the bed, and then another, forcing himself to go on.”]

The vision only lasted a moment, and the impenetrable pale features were there once more, showing neither hate nor fear, nor any feeling or emotion whatever.  Corbario was himself again, and turned quietly to the Superintendent.