The Marchese answered the unspoken query by an impatient shrug.
"Altro! She is impossible!" he said irritably--"Wild as the wind!--uncontrollable! She will kill herself!--but she does not care!" "What has she done ?" asked Aloysius, smiling a little--"Has she invented something new ?--a parachute in which to fall gracefully like a falling star ?" "Nothing of the kind"-- retorted Rivardi; vexed beyond all reason at the priest's tranquil air of good-humored tolerance--"But she insists on steering the air-ship herself! She took my place to-day." "Well ?" "Well! You think that nothing?
I tell you it is very serious--very foolhardy.

She knows nothing of aerial navigation--" "Was her steering faulty ?" Rivardi hesitated.
"No,--it was wonderful"-- he admitted, reluctantly; "Especially for a first attempt.

And now she declares she will travel with the 'White Eagle' alone! Alone! Think of it! That little creature alone in the air with a huge air-ship under her sole control! The very idea is madness!" "Have patience, Giulio!" said Don Aloysius, gently--"I think she cannot mean what she says in this particular instance.

She is naturally full of triumph at the success of her invention,--an amazing invention you must own!--and her triumph makes her bold.

But be quite easy in your mind!--she will not travel alone!" "She will--she will!" declared Rivardi, passionately--"She will do anything she has a mind to do! As well try to stop the wind as stop her! She has some scheme in her brain,--so fantastic vision of that Brazen City you spoke of the other day--" Don Aloysius gave a sudden start.
"No!--not possible!" he said--"She will not pursue a phantasm,--a dream!" He spoke nervously, and his face paled.