She was brave enough to face danger as well as a man, but there was no reason why she should stay where she was, waiting to be murdered.

She had a right to save herself without despising herself as a coward.

She therefore said nothing to stop Elettra in her preparations, and the maid silently went on with her work in the other room.
She still felt ill and terribly shaken, but she rose softly, to try her strength, and she found that after the first moment's dizziness she could stand and walk alone.

She looked at her hands, and she thought that they had shrunk and were thinner than ever.

Then she lay down again and called Elettra, and bade her prepare her own belongings and then come and dress her, when she should have finished.
"Yes, Excellency." That was almost all that the woman had said, since she had boiled the eggs for her mistress's luncheon, and Veronica herself did not speak except to give an order about some detail of the packing.