“I have not twenty scudi in the world, at my own free disposal.”

“You must find two hundred if you want the wax mask.  I don’t wish to threaten—­but money I must have.  I mention the sum of two hundred scudi, because that is the exact amount offered in the public handbills by Count Fabio’s friends for the discovery of the woman who wore the yellow mask at the Marquis Melani’s ball.  What have I to do but to earn that money if I please, by going to the palace, taking the wax mask with me, and telling them that I am the woman.  Suppose I confess in that way; they can do nothing to hurt me, and I should be two hundred scudi the richer.  You might be injured, to be sure, if they insisted on knowing who made the wax model, and who suggested the ghastly disguise—­”

“Wretch! do you believe that my character could be injured on the unsupported evidence of any words from your lips?”

“Father Rocco, for the first time since I have enjoyed the pleasure of your acquaintance, I find you committing a breach of good manners.  I shall leave you until you become more like yourself.  If you wish to apologize for calling me a wretch, and if you want to secure the wax mask, honor me with a visit before four o’clock this afternoon, and bring two hundred scudi with you.  Delay till after four, and it will be too late.”

An instant of silence followed; and then Nanina judged that Brigida must be departing, for she heard the rustling of a dress on the lawn in front of the summer-house.  Unfortunately, Scarammuccia heard it too.  He twisted himself round in her arms and growled.

The noise disturbed Father Rocco.  She heard him rise and leave the summer-house.  There would have been time enough, perhaps, for her to conceal herself among some trees if she could have recovered her self-possession at once; but she was incapable of making an effort to regain it.  She could neither think nor move—­her breath seemed to die away on her lips—­as she saw the shadow of the priest stealing over the grass slowly from the front to the back of the summer-house.  In another moment they were face to face.

He stopped a few paces from her, and eyed her steadily in dead silence.  She still crouched against the summer-house, and still with one hand mechanically kept her hold of the dog.  It was well for the priest that she did so.  Scarammuccia’s formidable teeth were in full view, his shaggy coat was bristling, his eyes were starting, his growl had changed from the surly to the savage note; he was ready to tear down, not Father Rocco only, but all the clergy in Pisa, at a moment’s notice.

“You have been listening,” said the priest, calmly.  “I see it in your face.  You have heard all.”

She could not answer a word; she could not take her eyes from him.  There was an unnatural stillness in his face, a steady, unrepentant, unfathomable despair in his eyes that struck her with horror.  She would have given worlds to be able to rise to her feet and fly from his presence.