"My brave girl!"
"It is not for nothing that I am my father's daughter. He risked
everything and so will I, and if they come to me to-morrow night and say
that ... that you ... that you are...."
The proud face had fallen on his breast again. But after a moment it was
raised afresh, and then it was shining all over.
"That's right! How beautiful your face is when it smiles, Roma! Roma, do
you know what I'm going to do when this is all over? I'm going to spend
my life in making you smile all the time."
She gave him a sudden kiss, and then broke out of his arms.
"I must be going. I've stayed too long. I may not see you before the
meeting, but I won't say 'good-bye.' I've thought of something, and now
I know what I'm going to do."
"What is it?"
"Don't ask me."
She opened the door.
"Come to me to-morrow night--I shall expect you," she whispered, and
waving her glove to him over her head she disappeared from the room.
He stood a moment where she had left him, trying to think what she
intended to do, and then he returned to his desk in the outer office.
His successor was there, looking sour and stubborn.
"Mr. Rossi," he said, "this afternoon I was told at the Press Club that
the authorities were watching for a plausible excuse for suppressing the
paper; and considering the relations of this lady to the Minister of the
Interior, and the danger of spies...."
"Listen to this carefully, sir," interrupted Rossi. "When you come into
possession of the chair I occupy, you may do as you think well, but
to-night it is mine, and I shall conduct the paper as I please."
"Still, you will allow me to say...."
"Not one word."
"Permit me to protest...."
"Leave the room immediately."
When the man was gone, David Rossi wrote a third and last version of his
manifesto: "Romans.--Have no fear. Do not allow yourselves to be terrified by the
military preparations of your Government. Believe a man who has never
deceived you--the soldiers will not fire upon the people! Violate no
law. Assail no enemy. Respect property. Above all, respect life. Do not
allow yourself to be pushed into the doctrine of physical force. If any
man tries to provoke violence, think him an agent of your enemies and
pay no heed. Be brave, be strong, be patient, and to-morrow night you
will send up such a cry as will ring throughout the world. Romans,
remember your fathers and be great."