"I am alone.

Will you see that what is necessary is done quickly?
I will leave you for a moment.

There are people outside." As she opened the door the gaping crowd of servants slunk out of her way.
With bent head she passed between them, and went out into the great reception-rooms, and sat down alone in her grief.
It was genuine, of its kind.

The poor man's soul might rest in peace, for she felt the real sorrow at his death which he had longed for, which he had perhaps scarcely dared to hope she would feel.

Had it not been real, in those first moments some thought would have crossed her mind--some faint, repressed satisfaction at being free at last--free to marry Giovanni Saracinesca.