"Ivan will remain behind to answer any questions if the reverend
clergyman and your aunt do come," he said, when they were seated
in the car in the settling sunlight. "And now, sweetheart, we can
enjoy our drive."

Stella felt deliciously excited, all the exultation of adventure
thrilling her, and the joy of her lover's presence. She cared not
where they were going, it was all heaven.

"We shall stop at a little restaurant for some dinner," he said,
"it will be rather bad, but we must not mind, it would not have
been wise to risk any well-known place," and soon they drew up at
a small cafe on the outskirts of Rome, where there were a few
people already seated at little tables under the trees. They were
all Italians, and took no notice of the Russian and his lady.

It was the greatest amusement to them both, this primitive place,
and to be all alone ordering their first meal together, and Sasha
Roumovski exerted himself to charm and please her. He had
recovered complete mastery of himself, it would seem, and his
manner, while tenderly devoted, had an air of proprietorship which
affected Stella exceedingly.

They spent an enchanting half hour, as gay as two children, with
all the exquisite under-current of love in their talk; and then
they got into the motor again.

"Let us have it open," Count Roumovski said. "The evening drive
will be divine."