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The carriage was moving rapidly, silently, on its rubber tires. She returned to her conjectures, losing herself in them to such an extent that she did not notice that the carriage had stopped until the footman opened the door. Signora Albacina met her on the stairs, ready to go out. Jeanne must come with her at once. At once? And where were they to go?
Yes, at once, at once, and in Jeanne's carriage, because Signora Albacina could not have her own at the present moment. She herself gave the address to the coachman, an address with which Jeanne was not familiar. She would explain on the way. The carriage started off once more. Ah! Signora Albacina had forgotten her visiting-cards!
Tea, which had been included in Guarnacci's invitation, was then brought in. "A delightful conversation, is it not?" Signora Albacina, wife of the Honourable Albacina, Undersecretary of the Home Office, said softly to the lady in black, who had not once spoken. She now smiled sadly without answering. Tea was served by the Professor and his sister, and put an end to conversation for a few moments.
"Were you not pleased with the discourse?" she said. She was in complete ignorance of Jeanne's religious opinions. "Yes," her companion answered. "Why?" "Oh, nothing! I thought you seemed dissatisfied. Then you are not sorry you came?" Signora Albacina was greatly astonished when Jeanne seized her hand and replied: "I am so grateful to you!"
Indeed, in about five minutes the deputy reappeared with Albacina, who begged Jeanne to enter the Minister's room with him. The two ladies had not expected this, and Donna Rosetta asked her husband if it were not he himself who wished to speak with Jeanne.
The object of the visit was, of course, still that for which Donna Rosetta Albacina had laboured for three days, her ostensible reason for so doing being the interest she took in the ideas and the person of the Saint of Jenne; her real reason being the pleasure she took in managing an intrigue, without scruples of conscience.
Signora Albacina wished to know what opinion Benedetto had of the Pope. "Oh, in the Pope he sees and venerates the office alone," said the Professor. "At least, I believe so. I have never heard him speak of the man, but I have heard him speak of the office.
Signora Albacina really must see him, and a quarter of an hour later she might not find him. Ah, what a complicated affair! She could not explain everything in a few words.
He appeared much surprised at this sudden outburst, after such a long silence. He apologised, saying he had not intended to assert that Benedetto would not speak to the Pope of other matters. He had simply meant to say that he believed he would certainly mention that subject. Signora Albacina could not understand this desire of the Pope's to see Benedetto. How did his friends explain it?
On Tuesday evening she had learned from Signora Albacina of the plot against Piero, and how her husband, the Under-Secretary of State, had been invited by the Minister to join him at the Ministry of the Interior, where an interview was to take place with this man so greatly feared and hated at the court of the Sovereign Pontiff, by that non-concessionist faction which wished to rule at the Vatican.
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