_My_ Mary was at the convent till
last fall. I can prove everything I say."
"Will you see my brother and his wife now, and tell them what you know?"
"With the greatest pleasure."
"Thank God you came! In another minute I should have been gone. And I
don't know where to look for Mary."
"You don't know? Didn't she write? Or did she expect you to believe
things against her?"
"I could hardly have blamed her if she had expected it, for--I failed
her once. But that was before I knew her. Nothing could make me doubt
her now. She did write to me. I found a letter waiting at the villa this
morning--a letter postmarked Monte Carlo, to say I mustn't look for
her--that all is over for ever and ever."
"But you're going to look for her all the same?"
"And to find her. I won't rest till I've got her back."
"You're the right sort of man, though you aren't an American."
"My mother was one."
"So much the better. Let's go into the house, and I'll soon make your
people swallow any words they've said against Mary."
Americo was still at the door, or had returned there. "Highness," he
said, "the Princess wishes me to make you come in. She has to talk. She
send me in woods, but I not go, because of young lady with you. I wait
here. Princess in yellow saloon, by her lone."
"Come," Vanno said to Peter. "We'll speak to her, and find out what she
wants. Then my brother shall come and hear your story."
"Go first and explain me, please," Peter said.
Vanno would have obeyed, but Princess Della Robbia gave him no time.
Pages:
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552