She bent down and kissed the close waves
of it, near his forehead.
"We have been very happy here," she said quietly.
She slipped away as he rose to his feet, with the sudden conviction that
something had happened.
"What is it?" he asked quickly, and making a step after her.
"I am going to dress," she answered.
She turned her head and smiled, but there was a touch of sadness in the
look, as if she was saying good-bye. He partly understood, and her
expression was reflected in his own face. They had been so happy in the
little house in Trastevere.
When the door had closed Marcello went to find Kalmon. He met him at the
foot of the stairs.
"The fellow is alive, and will probably recover," said the Professor, in
answer to the unasked question in Marcello's eyes.
"It would simplify matters if he died," said Marcello. "Will you walk up
to the villa with me and have coffee? We cannot get a cab at this hour
on this side of the Tiber."
"Thank you," Kalmon answered, "but I must go home. The house is in
charge of the police, and there is nothing more to be done here. They
have already taken the woman's body to San Spirito, and they will move
Corbario in a few hours. He is badly mauled, but no big arteries are
torn. I must go home and write a letter. The Contessa must not hear what
has happened through the newspapers."
"No. Certainly not. As for me, I am going to take Regina away at once.
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