At that instant the maid entered, bearing a telegram which a lad on a
cycle had brought from Uppingham for the Doctor's guest. The latter
opened it, glanced at its few faintly-written words, then frowned and
placed it in his pocket without comment.
"Bad news?" inquired Malvano. "You look a bit scared."
"Not at all; not at all," he laughed. "Merely a little affair of the
heart, that's all;" and he laughed in a happy, self-satisfied way.
Arnoldo was fond of the society of the fair sex, therefore the Doctor,
shrewd and quick of observation, was fully satisfied that the message
was from one or other of his many feminine acquaintances.
"Well, induce Vittorina to believe that you love her, and all will be
plain sailing," he said. "You are just the sort of fellow who can
fascinate a woman and compel her to act precisely as you wish. Exert on
her all the powers you possess."
"I'm afraid it will be useless," his companion answered in a dry,
hopeless tone.
"Bah! Your previous love adventures have already shown you to be a
past-master in the arts of flattery and flirtation. Make a bold bid for
fortune, my dear fellow, and you're bound to succeed. Come, let's take
a turn across the lawn; it's too warm indoors to-night." Romanelli
uttered no word, but rose at his host's bidding, and followed him out.
He felt himself staggering, but, holding his breath, braced himself up,
and, struggling, managed to preserve an appearance of outward calm.
How, he wondered, would Doctor Malvano act if he knew the amazing
information which had just been conveyed to him? He drew a deep breath,
set his lips tight, and shuddered.