For several days Jeanne had not slept and had eaten little.

On Tuesday evening she had learned from Signora Albacina of the plot against Piero, and how her husband, the Under-Secretary of State, had been invited by the Minister to join him at the Ministry of the Interior, where an interview was to take place with this man so greatly feared and hated at the court of the Sovereign Pontiff, by that non-concessionist faction which wished to rule at the Vatican.

She hastened to Noemi, got her to write the letter, and then telephoned to a young secretary, her friend and admirer, begging him to come to the Grand Hotel.

She charged him to find some one to deliver the letter, for it was probably too late to send it to Villa Mayda.

She knew also, for Noemi had told her so, that Piero was feverish.