Suddenly it occurred to her that the Catholic church might after all hold the key, might give her what she wanted! She sent for a priest; he happened to be a clever man, and he contrived to interest her.

She put on a black dress and a black lace veil, and looking handsomer than ever she rustled into the Catholic church.

The prince, who is very devout, and who had her heresy sorely on his conscience, was thrown into an ecstasy.

May she never have a caprice that pleases him less!" Rowland had already asked Madame Grandoni what, to her perception, was the present state of matters between Christina and Roderick; and he now repeated his question with some earnestness of apprehension.

"The girl is so deucedly dramatic," he said, "that I don't know what coup de theatre she may have in store for us.