CHAPTER III


Next morning it fell about that Stella Rawson was allowed to go
into the Musso Nazionale in the Diocletian baths, accompanied only
by Martha, her uncle and aunt having decided they would take a
rest and write their English letters. The museum was so near, a
mere hundred yards, there could be no impropriety in their niece's
going there with Martha, even in an exhibition year in Rome.

Stella was still suffering from a nameless sense of depression.
Eustace's train would get in at about five o'clock, and he would
accompany them to the Embassy. A cousin of her own and Aunt
Caroline's was one of the secretaries, and had already been
written to about the invitation. So that even if Count Roumovski
should be presented to her, and make the whole thing proper and
correct, she would have no chance of any conversation. The
brilliant sunlight felt incongruous and hurt her, and she was glad
to enter the shady ancient baths. She had glanced furtively to
right and left in the hotel as she came through the hall, but saw
no one who resembled the Russian, and they had walked so quickly
through the vestibule she had not remarked a tall figure coming
from the staircase, nor had seen him give some rapid order to a
respectful servant who was waiting about, and who instantly
followed them: but if she had looked up as she paid for the two
tickets at the barrier of the museum, she would have seen this
same lean man turn swiftly round and retreat in the direction of