Should the Senator consent, she begged him to give the bearer of her note his card, with a word or two of invitation for Maironi.

She ended by asking him to grant her an interview at the Senate sometime during the day, and by requesting him, in the meantime, not to mention the matter to any one.
Then she wrote to Noemi, informing her of what she had done in her name, and charging her to persuade her brother-in-law--in case the Senator sent his card--to take a carriage and carry the invitation to Villa Mayda at once.

He must persuade Maironi to accept the offer, and the Professor to allow him to go, laying before them the political reasons for taking this step.

When she had written these two letters she had an attack of prostration, with symptoms of such a serious nature that the maid was alarmed.

She did not, however, call Carlino, for Jeanne found strength to forbid this absolutely, but she sent for the doctor without telling her mistress she had done so.