"Leave her to me, I tell you," Imperia commanded hastily. "If Raphael and Maria Dovizio are to be reconciled Margherita must drop out of his life--not for one day but for ever." I liked this still less, though I laughed and reminded her how she herself had said that, when they once understood each other, Margherita would be no more to either of them than a lay-figure on which to hang draperies. Imperia smiled bitterly. "I may have thought so once, I know better now." "There is another way to foil Agostino," I suggested. "He will show the Dovizios my painting of the _Marriage of Alexander and Roxana_, in his own room. Leave such of your jewels on his dressing-case as will prove to Maria that you have recently occupied the apartment--that necklace which she admired so greatly at Cetinale. She would recognise it at once." Imperia shook her head contemptuously. "Agostino would gather up all such equivocal objects before he showed her the room," she said. "Then, since we cannot hinder Maria Dovizio from accepting this invitation, would you dare to return earlier than you are expected, and converse with her before she leaves? We might explain to Chigi afterward that we had miscalculated the time, or that our appearance was in some other way unpremeditated." "He would never forgive me," she said slowly; "nevertheless, if I do not succeed in removing Margherita, I shall return in time to pull the strings of my puppets, for Agostino shall never marry another woman." I well remember the last evening which we spent together. The air was sultry, and through the arches of the loggia occasional flashes of lightning made fiery crevices in the black heavens. Imperia paced uneasily to and fro. "We shall have a storm," she said. "I have a mind not to go to Magliana." Chigi turned pale and rose and walked beside her. He even attempted to put his arm about her waist, but she repulsed him with a savage scowl. "Do not pretend that you care for me, Agostino," she said angrily; "I will believe it only on one condition, that you accompany me to Magliana." "I have told you it is impossible, Imperia. Bazzi is an amusing fellow, a hundred times more entertaining than I." "I am tired of Bazzi. He is an insufferable idiot. I will not go unless you escort me, Agostino." "Then Raphael shall take you. His Holiness will be delighted to welcome him, as he desires him to plan some decorations for the villa; and you cannot, my Imperia, call Raphael an idiot." It was Imperia's turn to blanch as Raphael came forward and courteously asked the honour of her company. But she quickly recovered herself, "Raphael is too charming," she said guilefully, "and were it not that his heart is given to the beautiful Margherita I might be tempted to angle for it." "Ah!" exclaimed Chigi, well pleased, "that is good news. Margherita is a rare prize, and I am glad to know that the unimpressionable Raphael at last really loves."