"What a pretty rosebud it is!" he said softly,--"Full of sunshine--
and love!"
With returning strength he gathered up the forces of his native
pride and independence and rose from his chair.
"I am well--quite well again now!" he said, "Where is the boy,
Manuel?"
"Gone back to Angela," replied the Cardinal, "He said he would watch
her until she wakes."
"An angel watching an angel!" then said the Prince musingly, "That
is as it should be!" He paused a moment, "The King was very kind.
And you, Princesse--and you, bella Contessina!" and he courteously
bent over Sylvie's little hand and kissed it,--"You are all much too
good to an old man like me! I am strong again--I shall be ready to
speak--when Angela bids. But I must wait. I must wait!" He ruffled
his white hair with one hand and looked at them all very strangely.
"That was a great crowd outside--all waiting to hear news of my
girl! If--if they knew who it was that stabbed her--"
"Do you know?" cried Aubrey quickly.
"Per Dio!" And Sovrani smiled, "I thought Englishmen were
phlegmatic, and here is one ablaze, and ready to burst like a bomb!
No!--I did not say I knew!--but I say, if the crowd had known, they
would have lynched him! Yes, they would have torn him to pieces!
.
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