He was aware that Signora Dessalle, a friend of Signorina Noemi's, was in Rome.

He had promised this lady, before an alter at the Sacro Speco, to call her to him before his death, that they might speak together.

Probably Signorina Noemi would be able to explain the reason of this to him.
Selva paused; he had the letter in his pocket, and began searching for it.

Jeanne saw his movement, and was seized with convulsive shuddering.
"No, no," said he.

"I repeat he may be mistaken." He waited for her to become calm, and then, instead of taking the letter from his pocket, he repeated the last part of it by heart: "The attack will return this evening or in the night; to-morrow night, or the day after to-morrow in the morning, the end will come.