Part 21 (2/2)

”It is very important,” she said, ”and you must be very patient. You must give me your word that you will do nothing violent for at least a day, for you will be very angry.” She knew that, with all his good nature, she could rely on his courage. He was not easily frightened, after all. He looked earnestly at her, and his face was drawn into a look of determination that sat oddly on his delicate and rather weak features.

”Speak, Diana mia,” he said simply. ”I will do what I can for you.” He supposed, of course, that something had occurred between herself and Batis...o...b...

”It is not I,” she said, ”it is you who are concerned.”

”I?” repeated her brother, in some astonishment.

”Yes. You are the person who must act in the matter. You must write a little note to Batis...o...b.., and tell him that your wife's sudden illness”--

”What? But it is only a little sun--a mere headache,” interrupted Marcantonio.

”No matter;--that your wife's sudden illness is so severe that you must beg him to postpone the remainder of his visit to some future time.”

Marcantonio looked more and more astonished.

”But I only asked him for a week. He will go of his own accord to-morrow or the day after. I am sorry, Diana, but you said you did not mind meeting him.” He spoke seriously, with a puzzled expression on his face.

”It makes no difference,” said Diana. ”He must go to-morrow morning. He has not behaved honourably to you since he has been in the house.”

Her brother looked suddenly very grave, and his voice dropped as he spoke.

”Has he insulted you, Diana?” he asked.

”Yes,” said she, in low tones, ”he has insulted me. But he has done worse, he has insulted your wife in my hearing.”

Marcantonio turned suddenly on the sofa, and grasped his sister's arm as in a vise. His face turned a ghastly colour, and his voice trembled violently.

”Diana--are you telling me the truth?”

Her grey eyes turned honestly and bravely to him.

”You and I never learned to tell lies, Marcantonio. It is true.”

She knew well enough that he would never suspect his wife, nor ask a question which could lead to such a conclusion. When she said that Batis...o...b.. had insulted Leonora, she spoke the absolute truth. What greater insult can man offer an honest woman than by wittingly forcing upon her an unlawful love?

Marcantonio looked at her one moment, and then sprang to his feet. At that instant he could have killed Julius Batis...o...b.. with his hands, as perhaps Diana herself would have done. She seized his hand as he stood, and drew him toward her.

”No,” she said, understanding his thought, ”remember your promise. You must do nothing now--except write the note.”

But Carantoni was in no condition to write notes. He broke away, and walked wildly up and down the room, wringing his hands together, and muttering furious e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns. He was too angry, too much surprised, too much horrified at his own stupidity throughout the affair to be able to think clearly. Diana sat motionless on the sofa, as angry, perhaps, as he, in her own way, but full of pity and sympathy for him, and trying to devise some means of helping him. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, and her eyes followed him anxiously in his quick, irregular walk. And as she looked he seemed gradually to fall under her influence, and went and sat in a deep chair away from her, and buried his face.

Then Diana rose, and went to the table in the corner and arranged the light, and wrote, herself, the note to Batis...o...b.., leaving a blank at the foot for a signature. She looked round, and saw her brother watching her.

”Come, dear boy,” she said kindly, ”I have written the note for you; sign it, and I will see that he gets it in the morning.”

Marcantonio rose and came to her with uncertain steps. He put his hand on her shoulder a moment. Then he fell on his knees beside her, and pressed her close to him, silently. Presently he rose, she put the pen between his fingers, still trembling with his anger, and he signed the note as best he could. She put it into an envelope, sealed it, and directed it to Julius Batis...o...b...

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