"Is that the great secret?" she asked. "I thought you were in
earnest."

"The Senator is," observed Malipieri drily.

"If the old gentleman has made you believe that he is, he must have
some very deep scheme. He does not like to seem foolish."

Malipieri did not answer at once, but he betrayed no annoyance. In the
short silence, he could hear the Baroness's powerful voice yelling at
the telephone. It ceased suddenly, and he guessed that she was coming
back.

"If I find anything, I wish you to see it before any one else does,"
he said quickly.

"That would be very amusing!" Sabina laughed incredulously, just as
the door opened.

The Baroness heard the light laughter, and stood still with her hand
on the latch, as if she had forgotten something. She was not a woman
of sudden intuitions nor much given to acting on impulses, and when a
new idea crossed her mind she almost always paused to think it over,
no matter what she chanced to be doing. It was as if she had
accidentally run against something which stunned her a little.

"What is it?" asked Sabina, very naturally.

The Baroness beckoned silently to her, and she rose.