Signora Dietrich went away with a gracious smile. When she had rustled away and they were quite alone, Fulvia turned to Minna, and said: ‘What I told you was true. I will not go with you, because there would be no good and no happiness in it. It is better to be unhappy because of others than because of one’s self. But do you think I believe that Beppo is a bad man?’ Her eyes flashed fire as she asked the question with energy, and with almost solemn earnestness went on: ‘No, he is not bad. There is something bad behind it all--something so bad that I do not want to know it. But he is not bad. Signora,’ she bent to Minna, and whispered passionately in her ear, ‘I am _glad_ he is my father. It is the one good thing I have heard to-night.’ She then gave Minna a hasty kiss on the cheek and one on the hand, and in a moment Mrs. Hastings was alone. Quiet though the interview had been, there was now a singing in Minna’s ears, a rushing noise in her head, and a tremulousness in her throat, with a general feeling of collapse and _bouleversement_ which told how strong had been the excitement, and how intense the strain of the whole episode. ‘And she has conquered, and she does not care a straw; she has got what she wants,’ Minna muttered between her teeth, and then tears of rage and disappointment came to her relief. She wept till she was weary, and all the excitement had evaporated. CHAPTER XII. It was Fulvia’s wedding-day. Some days before Minna had had most of her belongings removed to a couple of rooms which she had taken. She felt it utterly impossible to remain in the house after the event should have taken place, and would gladly have left, but, on saying something of the kind to Fulvia herself, she had noticed a look of alarm and disappointment pass over her face and dilate her eyes. That was enough for Minna; but as well as that she had the half-superstitious feeling that even at the very last second something might happen to avert the catastrophe.