He sank upon the divan she indicated, pale, weary, and travel-worn, while she, taking a seat beside him, narrated how she had left Lyddington for London, and afterwards travelled to Rome. Feeling that the glance of the woman he worshipped was fixed upon him, he raised his head; and then their eyes met for a moment with an expression of infinite gentleness, the mournful gentleness of their heroic love. "Why did you go to Rome?" he asked. "You always said you hated it." "I had business," she answered. "Urgent business; business which has again aroused hope within me." "Still of a secret nature?" the young Englishman hazarded, with a quick glance of suspicion. "For the present, yes," she replied in a low, intense voice. "But you still love me, Nino? You can trust me now, can't you?" and she looked earnestly into his face. "I have already trusted you," he replied. "Since that night I left you at Lyddington my life has indeed been a dull, aimless one. You have been ever in my mind, and I have wondered daily, hourly, what was the nature of the grave mysterious peril which you say threatens both of us." "That peril still exists," she answered. "It increases daily, nay hourly." "You are still threatened? You, the wealthy owner of this magnificent palazzo!" he exclaimed, gazing around the pretty room bewildered. "Often when I was in Florence, in those days when we first met, I passed this great building. Little, however, did I dream that my Gemma, who used to cycle with me in the Cascine, was its owner." She laughed. "I had reasons for not letting you know my real name," she replied. "It is true that I have money; but wealth has brought me no happiness--only sorrow, alas!--until I met you." "And now you are happy?" he asked earnestly. "Ah! yes, I am happy when you are beside me, Nino," she responded, grasping his hand in hers. "I never thought that I could learn to love you so. I am still nervous, still in dread, it is true. The reason of my fear is a strange one; I fear the future, and I fear myself." "Yourself?" he echoed. "You told me that once before--long ago. You are not very formidable." "Ah, no! You don't understand," she cried hastily. "I fear that I may not have the strength and courage to carry through a plan I have formed to secure your safety and my own liberty." "But I can assist you," he suggested. "Your interests are mine, now, remember," he added, kissing her. "Yes," she said, looking up into his eyes. "But to render me assistance is not possible. Any action on my part must necessarily imperil both of us. No, I must act alone." "When?" "Very soon. In a few days, or a few weeks. When, I know not. Very soon I must return to England." "To England!" he cried. "I thought you preferred your own Italy!" "I have an object in going back," she answered ambiguously. "You'll let me accompany you?"