For the thought that rose uppermost in our minds--saving always that of Madonna Lucrezia--was that these communications concerned the sheltering of Madonna Paola, and were a command for her immediate return to Rome.

At last Giovanni handed his wife the letter intended for her, and, in silence, broke the seal of his own.
He unfolded it with a grim smile, but scarce had he begun to read when his expression softened into one of terror, and his face grew ashen.
Next it flared crimson, the veins on his brow stood out like ropes, and his eyes flashed furiously upon Madonna Lucrezia.

She was reading, her bosom rising and falling in token of the excitement that possessed her.
"Madonna," he cried in an awful voice, "I have here a command from the Holy See to repair at once to Rome, to answer certain charges that are preferred against me relating to my marriage.

Madonna, know you aught of this ?" "I know, sir," she answered steadily, "that I, too, have here a letter calling me to Rome.

But there is no reason given for the summons." Intuitively it flashed across my mind that whatever the matter might be, Madonna Lucrezia had full knowledge of it through the letter I had brought her from her brother.
"Can you conjecture, Madonna, what are these charges to which my letter vaguely alludes ?" Giovanni was inquiring.
"Your pardon, but the subject is scarcely of a nature to permit discussion in the castle courtyard.