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The Eternal City, a novel by Hall Caine |
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Part 9. The People - Chapter 5 |
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_ PART NINE. THE PEOPLE CHAPTER V Roma was lying on a bed-chair in the frescoed room which had once been the Pope's salon. She was wearing a white dress, and it made her unruffled brow look like alabaster. Her large eyes, which were closed, had blue rings on the lids, and her mouth, once so rosy and so gay with laughter and light words, was colourless as marble. A lay Sister, in a black and white habit, moved softly about the room. It was Bruno's widow, Elena. She was the Sister Angelica who had entered the convent of the Sacred Heart. It was there she had buried her own trouble until, hearing of Roma's, she had begged to be allowed to nurse her. A door opened and an officer, in a mixed light and dark blue uniform, entered. It was the doctor of the regiment. "Sleeping, Sister?" "Yes, sir." "Poor soul! Let her sleep as long as she can." But at that moment Roma opened her eyes, and held out her white hand. "Is it you, doctor?" she said with a smile. "And how is my patient this morning? Better, I think." "Much better. In fact, I feel no pain at all to-day." "She never does. She never feels anything if you believe her," said Elena. "Tired, Sister?" "Why should I be tired, I wonder?" "Sitting up all night with me. Your big burden is very troublesome, doctor." "Tut! You mustn't talk like that." "If all jailors were as good to their prisoners as mine are to me!" "And if all prisoners were as good to their jailors.... But I forbid that subject. I absolutely forbid it.... Ah, here comes your breakfast." A soldier in uniform trousers and a linen jacket and cap had come in with a tray on which there was a smoking basin. "You are from Sicily, aren't you, cook?" "Yes, from Sicily, Signora." Roma leaned back to Elena and said in an undertone, "That's where _he_ has gone to, isn't it?" "Some people say so, but nobody knows where he is." "No news yet?" "None whatever." "Sicily must be a lovely place, cook?" "It is, Signora. It's the loveliest place in the world." "Last night I had such a beautiful dream, doctor. Somebody who had been away came back, and all the church bells rang for him. I thought it was noon, I remember, for the big gun of the Castle had just been fired. But when I awoke it was quite dark, yet there was really something going on, for I could hear people singing in the city and bands of music playing." "Ah, that ... I'm afraid that was only ... only the sequel to the Prime Minister's funeral. Rome is not sorry that Baron Bonelli is dead, and last night a procession of men and women marched along the streets with songs and hymns, as on a night of carnival.... But I must be going. Sister, see she takes her medicine as usual, and lies quiet and does not excite herself. Good-morning!" When the cook also had gone Roma raised herself on her elbow. "Did you hear what the doctor said, Elena? The death of the Baron has altered everything. It was really no crime to kill that man, and by rights nobody should suffer for it." "Donna Roma!" "Ah! no, I didn't mean that. Yet why shouldn't I? And why shouldn't you? Didn't he kill Bruno and our poor dear little Joseph?..." Elena was crying. "I'm not thinking of myself," she said. "I'm not thinking of myself, either," said Roma, "and I'm not going to give in at the eleventh hour. But David Rossi will come back. I am sure he will, and then..." "And then... _you_, Donna Roma?" "I?" Roma fell back on her bed-chair. "No, _I_ shall not be here, that's true. It's a pity, but after all it makes no difference. And if David Rossi has to come back... over... over my dead body, as you might say... who is to know... or care... except perhaps... some day... when he..." Roma struggled on, but Elena broke down utterly. The door opened again, and a sentry on guard outside announced the English Ambassador. "Ah! Sir Evelyn, is it you?" The English gentleman held down his head. "Forgive me if I intrude upon your trouble, Donna Roma." "Sit! Give his Excellency a chair, Sister.... Times have changed since I knew you first, Sir Evelyn. I was a thoughtless, happy woman in those days. But they are gone, and I do not regret them." "You are very brave, Donna Roma. Too brave. Only for that your trial must have gone differently." "It's all for the best, your Excellency. But was there anything you wished to say to me?" "Yes. The report of your condemnation has been received with deep emotion in my country, and as the evidence given in court showed that you were born in England, I feel that I am justified in intervening on your behalf." "But I don't want you to intervene, dear friend." "Donna Roma, it is still possible to appeal to the Court of Cassation." "I have no desire to appeal--there is nothing to appeal against." "There might be much if you could be brought to see that--that.... In fact so many pleas are possible, and all of them good ones. For instance...." The Englishman dropped both eyes and voice. "Well?" "Donna Roma, you were tried and condemned on a charge of going to the Prime Minister's cabinet with the intention of killing him, and of killing him there. But if it could be proved that _he_ came to _your_ house, and that, to shield _another person not now in the hands of justice_, you...." "What are you saying, your Excellency?" "Look!" The Englishman had drawn from his breast-pocket a crumpled sheet of white paper. "Last night I visited your deserted apartment in the Piazza Navona, and there, amid other signs that were clear and convincing--the marks of two pistol-shots--I found--this." "What is it? Give it to me," cried Roma. She almost snatched it out of his hand. It was the warrant which Rossi had rolled up and flung away. "How did that warrant come there, Donna Roma? Who brought it? What other person was with you in those rooms that night? What does he say to this evidence of his presence on the scene of the crime?" Roma did not speak immediately. She continued to look at the Englishman with her large mournful eyes until his own eyes fell, and there was no sound but the crinkling of the warrant in her hand. Then she said, very softly: "Excellency, you must please let me keep this paper. As you see, it is nothing in itself, and without my testimony you can make nothing of it. I shall never appeal against my sentence, and therefore it can be no good to me or to anybody. But it may prove to be a danger to somebody else--somebody whose name should be above reproach." She stretched out a sweet white hand and touched his own. "Haven't I done enough wrong to him already, and isn't this paper a proof of it? Must I go farther still, and bring him to the galleys? You cannot wish it. Don't you see that the police would have to deny everything? And I--if you forced me to speak, I should deny everything also." A gentle, brave dauntlessness rang in her voice, and the Englishman could with difficulty keep back his tears. "Excellency, Sir Evelyn, friend ... tell me I may keep the paper." The Englishman rose and turned his head away. "It is yours, Donna Roma--you must do as you please with it." She kissed the paper and put it in her breast. "Good-bye, dear friend." He tried to answer, "Good-bye! God bless you!" But the words would not come. "The Major!" said the voice of the sentry. The Commandant of the Castle came into the room. "Ah! Major!" cried Roma. "The doctor tells me you are better this morning." "Much better." "It is my duty--my unhappy duty--to bring you a painful message. The authorities, thinking your presence in Rome a cause of excitement to the populace, have decided to send you to Viterbo." "When is it to be, Major?" "To-morrow about mid-day." "I shall be quite-ready. But have you sent for Father Pifferi?" "I came to speak about that also. Sister, return to your room for the present." Elena went out. "Donna Roma, a great personage has asked to see you in the place of the Father General. He will come in through that doorway. It leads by a passage long sealed up to the apartment of the Pope in the Vatican, and he who comes and goes by it must be unknown and unseen by any one except yourself." "Major!" But the Major was going hurriedly out of the room. A moment afterwards the Pope entered in his black cassock as a priest. _ |
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