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Giovanni, pale and determined, pushed her aside as he stooped to lift the woman he loved. Pieri helped him, and the Princess rose and stepped back to look on, now that she had shown her willingness to be of use. Ugo gazed at the scene with wide, astonished eyes, turning half round in his chair and grasping its arms to hold himself in the position.
But she had no doubt about it, in spite of the heavy beard that hid the lower part of his face. 'Oh, yes, he answered rather coldly. 'Quite alive, thank you. She held out her hand now, but it was shaking when he took it. Doctor Pieri looked on in some surprise, but said nothing. One of the orderlies rang the bell that summoned the supervising nurse.
'We will go upstairs at once, she added, leading the way to the steps. On learning that Ugo was already in bed, she said she would wait in the large sitting-room while the doctor went in to see what could be done. If the Captain would see her, she would speak to him when Pieri had finished his work. Nearly three-quarters of an hour passed before he joined her.
The Princess started slightly and then smiled, reflecting that she had never noticed the resemblance between Ugo's tone and poor Giovanni's. Doctor Pieri entered first, tall, grave, fair-bearded, and he was looking back to be sure that the orderlies were careful.
The Princess turned from him without answering, and left the hall. One of the orderlies had called another nurse from within, and Ugo was taken to his room, still surprised, but already understanding, as Pieri did. The latter soon took his leave, the nurse followed him for instructions, and the brothers were alone together. 'When I left her, Giovanni said, 'we were engaged to be married.
The Mother Superior and the surgeon looked at each other rather blankly. 'Shall I die any sooner if I am starved? asked Giovanni almost roughly. Pieri began to explain the danger, but Severi at once grew more impatient. 'I know all that, he said, 'and I have told you my decision. I refuse to undergo an operation.
One of these, Pieri, a teacher of languages, was arrested by the police, who recognised him as an old conspirator, before he threw the bomb which he was carrying. The other bombs were thrown just as the carriage containing the Imperial party drove up to the opera house. A number of people in the street were killed or injured, but the Emperor and Empress escaped unhurt.
In less than an hour more, Giovanni had helped Pica to carry Ugo down to the Princess's motor, which had appeared punctually, bringing Doctor Pieri, and the wounded man was comfortably placed in the limousine with the surgeon beside him and Giovanni sitting opposite. Ugo introduced his brother as a relation who had arrived very opportunely that morning.
Pieri did not like it, and turned to the door. 'Since you talk of fighting, he said, 'I would give you ether by force, if I could, and let the law do what it would after I had saved your life in spite of you! If you chose to blow your brains out afterwards, that would not concern me! Thereupon he disappeared, shutting the door more sharply than doctors usually do when they leave a sick-room.
In due course the assistant head-nurse came to report that Pieri had finished his work and that Captain Ugo had recovered well from the ether; his brother was with him and would stay till eight o'clock, the hour at which all visitors were required to leave the hospital except in cases of extreme danger. Sister Giovanna nodded and wrote a few lines in the day-book. It was then half-past three.
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