Regina rose, got a long black cloak and a dark veil without lighting a
candle, and put them on. Then she went out.
CHAPTER XXI
Ercole walked on when he saw some one come out of No. 16, for he did not
recognise Regina. She followed him at a distance. Even if he should pass
where there might be many people, she would not lose sight of him easily
because he had his dog with him. She noticed that his canvas bag was
hung over one shoulder and that it seemed to be full, and his gun was
slung over the other. He meant to leave Rome that night on foot. He
walked fast through the new streets in the upper quarter, turned to the
right when he reached the Via Venti Settembre, and went straight on,
past the top of the hill, and along the Quirinal Palace; then down and
on, down and on, through moonlight and shadow, winding streets and
straight, till the Colosseum was in sight. He was going towards the
Porta San Sebastiano to take the road to Ardea.
The air was very clear, and the moonlight made the broad space as bright
as if there were daylight. Regina walked fast, and began to overtake her
father, and the dog turned his head and growled at the tall woman in
black. She came up with Ercole by the ruin of the ancient fountain, and
the dog snarled at her. Ercole stopped and looked at her sharply, and
she raised her veil.
"I have followed you," she said. "We are alone here. We can talk in
peace.
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