Further particulars or explanations were denied him, except that he would find a special police officer placed at his service from that moment until he reached his destination,--which was a polite intimation that he was thenceforth under government surveillance, and that any attempt at flight would be frustrated.
He returned at once to his house, which adjoined that of the Marchioness Caldariva.

Indeed, from his bedroom a secret passage, already referred to, led into Rozina's boudoir; but the clock-door had seldom opened to the secretary of late.

Toward seven o'clock in the evening he saw a closed carriage drive away from the next door.
"She is going to the opera," said he to himself as he watched the vehicle turn a corner and disappear.

He donned hat and coat and sauntered after it, the emissary of the police always ten steps in the rear.

Arrived at the opera-house, he purchased tickets for himself and his faithful attendant, and then made his way to the box of the marchioness.
Rozina received him with apparent cordiality and listened to his whispered account of what had befallen him.
"Have you talked this over with Prince Cagliari ?" she asked.
"No, and I shall not," replied Vajdar, with significant emphasis.