"You intend to arrest!" Gemma cried hoarsely. "I--I have dreaded this for a long time past. I knew that, one day or other, you would come for me, and my reputation would be ruined for ever." "Listen, signorina," the official said gravely. "Certain information has been obtained by the Questore, and upon that information I have been sent here to you. Much as I regret to disturb you, signorina, the Questore, after carefully considering certain statements before him, has decided that your presence is undesirable in Livorno, and, further, he wishes me to inform you that to-day you must leave this city." Gemma, her face white and drawn, humiliated and abased, sighed deeply, then breathed again more freely. She had expected arrest, but instead was ordered out of Livorno. To say the least, the police had been merciful towards her. "Then I must leave to-day?" she repeated mechanically. "Yes, signorina. The penalty for remaining here after this order of the Questore is immediate arrest," he said. "But why is this course pursued?" Armytage asked. "For what reason is the presence of the signorina deleterious in the city? It all seems very remarkable to me." "The information before the Qaestore is of a very confidential character, signore." "Are you not aware of the allegations against her?" "No," he replied; "I have only been deputed to warn her to leave Livorno." "Is such a measure frequently resorted to?" "Usually we arrest the suspected individual, question him, and afterwards deport him to the railway station, if there is not sufficient ground to justify a prosecution. In this case there is just a simple warning. Only in very exceptional cases is the course followed which the Questore is now pursuing." "Then you have no knowledge of the actual charge in this case?" "No, signore, I have not. But," he added, "the signorina must herself know the reason." Armytage turned quickly to her. Their eyes met for a single instant. Then she slowly nodded, saying in an indistinct voice: "Yes, yes, I know only too well the reason of this. I must leave Livorno--leave Italy, my own country that I love, never to return." "That would be the very best course to pursue," the delegato urged. "If you leave Italy, signorina, you will, I think, hear no more of the unfortunate affair. Indeed, I have strong reasons for believing that the Questore has acted in the manner he has done purposely, in order that you should be afforded an opportunity to leave Italy." "He thinks that exile is preferable to imprisonment," she said aloud, as if reflecting. "Well, perhaps he is right;" and she laughed a short, hollow laugh. "Yes," urged Armytage, "you must leave to-night." She was silent. The police official exchanged glances with the tall, good-looking young Englishman, then said, bowing politely-- "I will wish you adieu, signore. A thousand pardons for disturbing you; but it was my duty, therefore pray forgive me."