CHAPTER XII

EPILOGUE

"And it was directly after that conversation that the poor child left for
the lake, where she caught the pernicious fever?" asked Montfanon.

"Directly," replied Dorsenne, "and what troubles me the most is that I
can not doubt but that she went there purposely. I was so troubled by
our conversation that I had not the strength to leave Rome the same
evening, as I told her I should. After much hesitation--you understand
why, now that I have told you all--I returned to the Villa Steno at six
o'clock. To speak to her, but of what? Did I know? It was madness.
For her avowal only allowed of two replies, either that which I made her
or an offer of marriage. Ah, I did not reason so much. I was afraid....
Of what?.... I do not know. I reached the villa, where I found the
Countess, gay and radiant, as was her custom, and tete-a-tete with her
American. 'Only think, there is my child,' said she to me, 'who has
refused to go to the English embassy, where she would enjoy herself, and
who has gone out for a drive alone.... Will you await her?'"

"At length she began to grow uneasy, and I, seeing that no one returned,
took my leave, my heart oppressed by presentiments.... Alba's carriage
stopped at the door just as I was going out. She was pale, of a greenish
pallor, which caused me to say on approaching her: 'Whence have you
come?' as if I had the right. Her lips, already discolored, trembled as
they replied. When I learned where she had spent that hour of sunset,