But the mortal pain freed her tongue, and a moment later she broke out in a fervent appeal.
'Live, Giovanni, live--for Christ's good sake who died for you--for my sake, too--for your own! Live the life that is still before you, and you can make it great! If you love me, make it a noble life for that, if for nothing else! Do you know, all Rome is ringing with the story of what you did last night--the King, the Court, the Ministers are sending for news of you every half-hour--the world is calling you a hero--will you let them think that you are afraid of an operation, or will you let my enemy tell the world that you have let yourself die for my sake?
That is what it comes to, one or the other of those things!' Severi smiled faintly and shook his head without lifting it from the pillow.
'No man will call me coward,' he answered; 'and no one would believe Princess Chiaromonte--not if she took oath on her death-bed!' 'Will nothing move you ?' cried the unhappy woman, in utter despair.
'Nothing that I can say?
Not the thought of what life will mean to me when you are gone?
Not my solemn assurance that I can do nothing--nothing----' 'You can!' Giovanni cried, with sudden and angry energy.

'You are willing to let me die rather than risk the salvation of your own soul.
That is the naked truth of all this.' Her hands left his as if they had lost their strength, and she rose at the same instant and tottered backwards against the near wall, speechless and transfixed with horror at the mere thought that what he said might be true.
But Giovanni's eyes did not follow her; the door had opened quietly, and Monsignor Saracinesca was there and had heard the last words.
The prelate's face expressed neither displeasure nor reproach; it was only very thoughtful.
Giovanni was in no humour to receive a visit from a priest just then, even though the latter was an old acquaintance and had once been a friend.

Moreover, the last time they had been together, they had parted on anything but good terms.

Giovanni spoke first.
'Have you come, like the others, to accuse me of committing suicide ?' he asked.
The answer was unexpected and uncompromising.
'No.' Sister Giovanna, still half-stunned and steadying herself against the wall, turned wondering eyes to the speaker.

The angry look in Severi's face changed to one of inquiry.