Towards noon on Saturday Jeanne received a note from Signora Albacina.

The wife of the Under-Secretary of State was expecting Jeanne at her own home at two o'clock.

It was in consequence of this invitation that Jeanne drove away shortly before two, regardless of Carlino's protests.
As soon as the carriage had started Jeanne raised her veil and took the note from her muff, bending her lovely pale face over it, gazing at it, but not reading it or studying the sense, clear and simple enough, of the words it contained.

She was wondering what Signora Albacina could have to tell her; imagining all sorts of impossible things.

Had they decided to leave Maironi alone?
Or had the police discovered his dwelling-place and were they about to arrest him?
"It will surely be the worst!" Jeanne said to herself.