"Yes, but what is it? What can possibly happen that can make a
difference?"

Malipieri glanced at the door, fearing that the Baroness might enter
suddenly.

"Can you keep a secret?" he asked quickly.

"Of course! Tell me!" She leaned forward with eager interest,
expecting his next words.

"Did you ever hear that something very valuable is said to be hidden
somewhere under the palace?"

Sabina's face fell and the eagerness faded from her eyes instantly.
She had often heard the story from her nurses when she had been a
little girl, and she did not believe a word of it, any more than she
believed that the marble statue of Cardinal Conti in the library
really came down from its pedestal on the eve of All Souls' and walked
through the state apartments, or the myth about the armour of
Francesco Conti, of which the nurses used to tell her that on the
anniversary of the night of his murder his eyes could be seen through
the bars of the helmet, glowing with the infernal fire. As for any
hidden treasure, she was quite positive that if it existed her brother
and sister would have got at it long ago. Malipieri sank in her
estimation as soon as he mentioned it. He was only a Venetian, of
course, and could not be expected to know much about Rome, but he must
be very weak-minded if he could be imposed upon by such nonsense. Her
delicate lip curled with a little contempt.