Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 2.djvu/83

72 and the gleam of almond eyes and snowy bosoms. His opponent had loved nothing but power; until now, for the first time, he loved a woman and loved a revenge. Hence, now for the first time, also, he played into Villaflor's hands.

A dusky red tinged the pale clear brown cheek of the Bishop, and in his eyes was the gleam that those who knew him had learned to tremble sorely at when too few were found for the dungeons of the Vicaria, or out of the crowds of Easter-day one face dared look a frank defiance at him while the Silver Trumpets sounded.

"All the revolutionists have not menaced us and braved us as this one woman has done!" he muttered. "All the rebels of Sardinia and Sicily have not the danger in them that Idalia has. The man is bad enough, but she" "Conrad can be bought," put in Vane, gently; there was, indeed, an overstrained quietude in his face and in his tone. "Name the price your Grace will give; I will purchase him for you to-morrow."

Monsignore bent his head with a slight smile.

"Promise what you will, I can confide perfectly in your discretion!" he said, with his suave dignity of grace; he reserved to himself the right to refuse ratification of the promises when the fish