As he turned aside his head , since he could not bear to look at her beautiful , pleading face , he was suddenly attacked by suspicion .sx 'You wish to marry someone else !sx ' he cried in a voice roughened by jealousy .sx She sighed deeply , and looked away .sx 'Do you ?sx Do you ?sx ' he repeated , fiercely .sx 'If,' she said gently , giving him a look that set his pulses throbbing , 'if I wished to marry some young gallant , do you think I would ask your help ?sx You would be the last man I would ask .sx ' Before he could collect his wits to reply to this , there was a bustle and confusion at the end of the room .sx Prince Doria had wearied of his toy and was packing it away in its painted coffer .sx The party was now preparing to see the tapestries , and in the general movement , Vittoria was separated from Orsini .sx Although neither of them wished to follow the sightseers , there seemed no alternative .sx As she was about to mount a wide and shallow flight of marble stairs , she became aware of someone watching her intently , and turning in that direction , she saw Olimpia , standing beside her admirer , Orlando Cavalcanti .sx The young man was bending over her with the assiduity of a lover , but the girl appeared to be more interested in her cousin's wife , whom she was regarding through half-closed eyes .sx This was a slight shock to Vittoria , who had forgotten the existence of the girl , and , up to this moment had been unaware of the young man's presence at the palazzo .sx 'Are you enjoying yourself , Olimpia ?sx ' she asked idly , tapping the girl's cheek lightly with her fan , in passing ; but she did not wait for the answer .sx Disturbed by vague uneasiness , she was wondering whether Olimpia had been watching her talk with Orsini .sx Surely she could not have overheard anything they said ?sx A moment's reflection reassured her on that point , for she was certain no one had been standing near them .sx However , something inimical in the girl's look put Vittoria on guard .sx 'Santa Maria !sx These spying eyes !sx ' she thought , bitterly .sx Doria was continually stopping on the way , to point out , with childish pride , objects of beauty or interest .sx Vittoria , on the fringe of the party , caught snatches of this information , which held no interest for her :sx ' .sx . now this sapphire .sx . I like to think it may have fallen from the dark hair of the Empress Messalina , as she crouched in terror in the gardens of Lucullus , awaiting the sword of the executioner .sx ' 'Ah !sx ' exclaimed Farnese , with a snigger .sx 'The old cuckold Claudius had the last word , after all .sx He knew how to deal with an adulterous wife , eh , Orsini ?sx ' If the duke made any reply to this , Vittoria did not hear it .sx Now they entered the long gallery where they dispersed and wandered around , admiring and commenting on the glowing hues and barbaric splendours of the tapestries Doria had brought back from Lepanto .sx After a short interval , Orsini found an opportunity to rejoin Vittoria .sx 'We must talk further,' he said in a low urgent voice .sx 'Where ?sx ' 'Be careful,' she whispered from behind her fan .sx 'Olimpia is watching us .sx The young man with her is Orlando Cavalcanti , Francesco's friend .sx ' Orsini shot an impatient glance at the couple .sx 'The young man with the mole ?sx ' 'Yes , indeed .sx ' 'No matter .sx They are not looking at us .sx Now I must know,' he whispered , 'what you meant , cara mia .sx Do you want your freedom in order to marry ?sx ' Before replying to this , she glanced hastily around , then spoke in tones so low that he had to bend his head to hear :sx 'I will never be any man's mistress .sx As to marrying again .sx . if I were free .sx . there is only one man I would wish to marry .sx . but .sx . he , like myself , is now bound .sx ' With a swift gesture she closed her fan and moved away from him towards the group in the centre of the gallery , leaving him standing alone , against that glowing , barbaric background , with a deeply thoughtful expression on his face .sx Chapter Six .sx On a bright unclouded morning a few days after the visit to the Doria Palace , the cardinal's coach left the villa , lurched over the unpaved track and turned towards the ruined Baths of Diocletian .sx Vittoria , accompanied by her maid , Lucia , was on her way to the Accoramboni villa , ostensibly to pay a daughterly call on her father , actually to coax money from that indulgent parent to settle her mounting debts .sx Lucia was thinking how beautiful her mistress looked , and how cunningly the olive-green dress with its underskirt of rose-brocade fitted her perfect figure .sx Vittoria's thoughts were more complex .sx The sparkling society of the Doria Palace , the flattery of Orsini's obsession , the thwarted ambitions of her restless spirit , all threw into sharp relief the contrast of her grey life with the splendid one that filled her dreams .sx At the Villa Montalto she felt an alien , and although she had repeatedly urged Francesco to give her a separate establishment , he invariably pleaded his financial dependence on his uncle , who had built the villa for his family .sx He reminded her that they must abide by Roman custom , and dwell there with their relations .sx Her values were those of the materialist who assesses every human being in terms of fame , power and wealth .sx Francesco she despised for his dullness , his lack of initiative , his subservience to his uncle .sx Her husband's gentleness and amiability , his unselfish love for her , she regarded as signs of weakness .sx He was a futile creature who had not even proved capable of giving her a child .sx Whatever passion she had experienced in the first months of marriage had been ousted by contempt .sx She had never loved him .sx Her thoughts rushed to Orsini .sx Since the meeting in the Doria Palace , no word had come from him , and this silence oppressed her spirits with a weight of misgiving .sx She had , perhaps , demanded too much .sx The kiss in the garden had plumbed unsuspected depths in her , and she knew that if she yielded to him , her passion could , indeed , match his .sx Every instinct urged her to surrender , for there was that in his nature to which her own had responded as it had responded to no other human being .sx Prudence , ambition and reason had held instinct in check , and they must dictate her course .sx There could be no compromise .sx For a brief interval she allowed herself the luxury of dreams .sx She began to imagine life at Bracciano , the balls and fe@5tes , the conversation of poets and dilettanti .sx She visualized the pageantry of the tournament , and herself on the ducal dais beside Orsini , placing a chaplet of roses on the brows of some young conqueror in the lists .sx This reverie was rudely ended as the coach gave a sickening jolt and came to an abrupt stop , nearly throwing the two girls from their seats .sx Lucia uttered a cry of alarm .sx 'Look , madonna , we are surrounded !sx ' It was true .sx Men armed with pikes and daggers swarmed about them and a lean , swarthy fellow was peering through the window , grinning impudently .sx 'Santa Maria !sx ' shrieked Lucia .sx 'Banditti !sx ' Vittoria now realized that they were outside Santa Maria degli Angeli , and that except for a few beggars crouching in the doorway of the church and exhibiting loathsome sores , the area was deserted .sx 'They are not banditti , Lucia,' said Vittoria , pointing to the badge on the man's shoulder .sx The words were clear .sx 'Beware my hug !sx ' Lucia stared speechlessly at the golden bear ; Vittoria swiftly averted her head to avoid the impertinent glance of the retainer .sx Her thoughts at this moment were chaotic .sx The coach now turned in another direction , towards the wild and desolate region behind the baths .sx It was sparsely inhabited , dotted with fallow fields and terraced vineyards , and here and there jutted a brown outcrop of flower-wreathed ruins , a pathetic reminder of Rome's former greatness .sx In this region of Monti most of the public baths had been built in the time of the Caesars , but with the breaking of the aqueducts during the barbarian invasions the baths had lost their purpose ; they had become stone quarries and their precious marble had been burnt for lime .sx Now escaped criminals and bandits used these quarries as hiding places , to the danger of travellers in the district .sx As they lumbered past at a rattling pace , Vittoria could see a wisp of smoke curling above the fire of a gypsy encampment and a few tatterdemalion creatures gathered about it , cooking their frugal meal .sx These were left far behind .sx An old man belabouring an overladen donkey , and a withered crone appeared on the horizon , were overtaken and forgotten .sx Except for their escort , Vittoria and Lucia might have been the only living creatures on an empty planet .sx After the initial shock , Vittoria felt calm .sx She knew exactly what she wanted , and was prepared to take it without scruple , if she could .sx What she had forgotten in her self-absorption in her own schemes was that other people were equally absorbed in their schemes , which were likely to run counter to her own .sx This move today was a reminder of that fact .sx Whilst she automatically patted the hand of the agitated Lucia , her brain was working rapidly , and she decided that she must be prepared to counter Orsini's demands , difficult though that would be .sx She became aware that the pace was slackening ; now the coach stopped .sx The moment had come .sx Upon the ensuing interview the future would depend .sx Outwardly she was calm , but her heart was beating fast , and the palms of her hands were damp .sx Orsini's high-crowned hat with its jaunty plume blotted out the light ; his hand was on the door .sx Glancing at Lucia he said in French to Vittoria :sx 'Your maid .sx . is she reliable ?sx ' She shrugged her shoulders , and replied in the same language :sx 'Yes .sx But make it worth her while .sx ' 'I see .sx I know how to deal with people like that,' and turning to the cowering Lucia , he spoke in her own language .sx 'Do you know who I am ?sx ' 'No , signor,' she whispered .sx 'I am the Orsini .sx My word is law in Rome .sx ' Lucia was regarding him as a rabbit looks at a stoat .sx Thrusting his head farther into the coach , he said sombrely :sx 'Have you ever heard of a punishment called the cord ?sx ' She blanched and shrank away .sx Was there not a street near Sant' Angelo called the Lane of the Corda where criminals were hoisted by their wrists forty , fifty , sixty feet into the air , and dropped again and again , until their arms were wrenched from their sockets .sx 'You have heard of it ?sx The Orsini give that to traitors .sx There is no escaping the vengeance of an Orsini .sx We hunt a traitor down to the ends of the earth , and no power can save him .sx . or her .sx Do you understand ?sx ' 'Yes , signor,' she faltered .sx 'On the other hand,' he continued , giving her a keen look , 'the Orsini are generous to those who serve them faithfully .sx Remember that , my girl .sx ' Lucia was beyond speech .sx He turned to Vittoria , sitting erect , with flushed cheeks and eyes sparkling with anger .sx 'And now , madonna,' he said smoothly , 'we will continue the conversation started at the Doria Palace .sx Be pleased to alight .sx ' 'I think,' she replied coolly , 'I prefer to stay where I am .sx ' 'In that case,' he reverted to French , 'I shall be obliged to lift you from the coach .sx ' Without answering him , she rose , and bending over the agitated girl , said softly :sx 'No one will harm you , Lucia .sx Remain here .sx ' Ignoring his proffered hand , she stepped from the vehicle .sx 'Will you be so good as to order your men not to molest my maid,' she said coldly to Orsini .sx 'She is absolutely safe,' he replied ; but he turned , nevertheless , to the man who had peered into the coach , whom he had addressed as Luigi , and gave him sharp instructions on the matter .sx Vittoria stood looking about her , breathing the scent of thyme .sx The land at her feet sloped away into a tiny valley beyond which , on the crest of a wooded hill-side , the ruins of a small temple were etched against the clear blue of the sky .sx