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he said in reply。
I was far from satisfied。 〃You are one of Romayne's oldest
friends；〃 I persisted。 〃Have you not seen him yourself？〃
〃I have seen him more than once。 But he has never referred to his
affairs。〃 Having said this he hastily changed the subject。 〃Is
there any other information that I can give you？〃 he suggested。
I had still to learn under what circumstances Romayne had left
Italy for France； and how the event of his illness in Paris had
been communicated to his wife。 Lord Loring had only to draw on
his own recollections to enlighten me。
〃Lady Loring and I passed the last winter in Rome；〃 he said。
〃And； there； we saw Romayne。 You look surprised。 Perhaps you are
aware that we had offended him； by advice which we thought it our
duty to offer to Stella before her marriage？〃
I was certainly thinking of what Stella had said of the Lorings
on the memorable day when she visited me at the hotel。
〃Romayne would probably have refused to receive us；〃 Lord Loring
resumed； 〃but for the gratifying circumstance of my having been
admitted to an interview with the Pope。 The Holy Father spoke of
him with the most condescending kindness； and； hearing that I had
not yet seen him； gave instructions； commanding Romayne to
present himself。 Under these circumstances it was impossible for
him to refuse to receive Lady Loring and myself on a later
occasion。 I cannot tell you how distressed we were at the sad
change for the worse in his personal appearance。 The Italian
physician； whom he occasionally consulted； told me that there was
a weakness in the action of his heart； produced； in the first
instance； by excessive study and the excitement of preaching； and
aggravated by the further drain on his strength due to
insufficient nourishment。 He would eat and drink just enough to
keep him alive； and no more； and he persistently refused to try
the good influence of rest and change of scene。 My wife； at a
later interview with him； when they were alone； induced him to
throw aside the reserve which he had maintained with me； and
discovered another cause for the deterioration in his health。 I
don't refer to the return of a nervous misery； from which he has
suffered at intervals for years past； I speak of the effect
produced on his mind by the announcementmade no doubt with best
intentions by Doctor Wybrowof the birth of his child。 This
disclosure （he was entirely ignorant of his wife's situation when
he left her） appears to have affected him far more seriously than
the English doctor supposed。 Lady Loring was so shocked at what
he said to her on the subject； that she has only repeated it to
me with a certain reserve。 'If I could believe I did wrong；' he
said； 'in dedicating myself to the service of the Church； after
the overthrow of my domestic happiness； I should also believe
that the birth of this child was the retributive punishment of my
sin； and the warning of my approaching death。 I dare not take
this view。 And yet I have it not in me； after the solemn vows by
which I am bound； to place any more consoling interpretation on
an event which； as a priest； it disturbs and humiliates me even
to think of。' That one revelation of his tone of thought will
tell you what is the mental state of this unhappy man。 He gave us
little encouragement to continue our friendly intercourse with
him。 It was only when we were thinking of our return to England
that we heard of his appointment to the vacant place of first
attache to the Embassy at Paris。 The Pope's paternal anxiety on
the subject of Romayne's health had chosen this wise and generous
method of obliging him to try a salutary change of air as well as
a relaxation from his incessant employments in Rome。 On the
occasion of his departure we met again。 He looked like a worn…out
old man。 We could now only remember his double claim on usas a
priest of our religion； and as a once dear friendand we
arranged to travel with him。 The weather at the time was mild；
our progress was made by easy stages。 We left him at Paris；
apparently the better for his journey。〃
I asked if they had seen Stella on that occasion。
〃No；〃 said Lord Loring。 〃We had reason to doubt whether Stella
would be pleased to see us； and we felt reluctant to meddle；
unasked； with a matter of extreme delicacy。 I arranged with the
Nuncio （whom I have the honor to know） that we should receive
written information of Romayne's state of health； and on that
understanding we returned to England。 A week since； our news from
the Embassy was so alarming that Lady Loring at once returned to
Paris。 Her first letter informed me that she had felt it her duty
to tell Stella of the critical condition of Romayne's health。 She
expressed her sense of my wife's kindness most gratefully and
feelingly and at once removed to Paris； to be on the spot if her
husband expressed a wish to see her。 The two ladies are now
staying at the same hotel。 I have thus far been detained in
London by family affairs。 But； unless I hear of a change for the
better before evening； I follow Lady Loring to Paris by the mail
train。〃
It was needless to trespass further on Lord Loring's time。 I
thanked him； and returned to Penrose。 He was sleeping when I got
to the hotel。
On the table in the sitting…room I found a telegram waiting for
me。 It had been sent by Stella； and it contained these lines：
〃I have just returned from his bedside； after telling him of the
rescue of Penrose。 He desires to see you。 There is no positive
sufferinghe is sinking under a complete prostration of the
forces of life。 That is what the doctors tell me。 They said； when
I spoke of writing to you； 'Send a telegram； there is no time to
lose。' 〃
Toward evening Penrose awoke。 I showed him the telegram。
Throughout our voyage； the prospect of seeing Romayne again had
been the uppermost subject in his thoughts。 In the extremity of
his distress； he declared that he would accompany me to Paris by
the night train。 Remembering how severely he had felt the fatigue
of the short railway journey from Portsmouth； I entreated him to
let me go alone。 His devotion to Romayne was not to be reasoned
with。 While we were still vainly trying to convince each other；
Doctor Wybrow came in。
To my amazement he sided with Penrose。
〃Oh； get up by all means；〃 he said； 〃we will help you to dress。〃
We took him out of bed and put on his dressing…gown。 He thanked
us； and saying he would complete his toilet by himself； sat down
in an easy chair。 In another moment he was asleep again； so
soundly asleep that we put him back in his bed without waking
him。 Doctor Wybrow had foreseen this result： he looked at the
poor fellow's pale peaceful face with a kindly smile。
〃There is the treatment；〃 he said； 〃that will set our patient on
his legs again。 Sleeping； eating； and drinkinglet that be his
life for some weeks to come； and he will be as good a man as
ever。 If your homeward journey had been by land； Penrose would
have died on the way。 I will take care of him while you are in
Paris。〃
At the station I met Lord Loring。 He understood that I too had
received bad news； and gave me a place in the _coupe_ carriage
which had been reserved for him。 We had hardly taken our seats
when we saw Father Benwell among the travelers on the platform；
accompanied by a gray…haired gentleman who was a stranger to both
of us。 Lord Loring dislikes strangers。 Otherwise； I might have
found myself traveling to Paris with that detestable Jesuit for a
companion。
Paris； May 3。On our arrival at the hotel I was informed that no
message had yet been received from the Embassy。
We found Lady Loring alone at the breakfast…table； when we had
rested after our night journey。
〃Romayne still lives；〃 she said。 〃But his voice has sunk to a
whisper； and he is unable to breathe if he tries to rest in bed。
Stella has gone to the Embassy； she hopes to see him to…day for
the second time。〃
〃Only for the second time！〃 I exclaimed。
〃You forget； Mr。 Winterfield； that Romayne is a priest。 He was
only consecrated on the customary condition of an absolute
separation from his wife。 On her sidenever let her know that I
told you thisStella signed a formal document； sent from Rome；
asserting that she consented of her own