But when she crossed the threshold of the house, she already hoped that he might be there.

Her doubts were soon set at rest by the sight of his thin face and almost colourless beard, in the distance, as the servant opened the door of the drawing-room.

Bianca was seated at the piano, and Gianluca was standing on one side of her, while Ghisleri bent over her on the other, looking at the sheet of music before her.

She rose, as Veronica entered,--a queenly young figure, with a lovely, fateful face.

To-day her eyes were dark and shadowy, and Veronica thought that she must have been crying in the night.
Gianluca had started visibly when Veronica had appeared, but she did not look at him until she had kissed Bianca, and had spoken to Ghisleri, who now, for the first time, understood the meaning of Gianluca's unexpected morning visit.