"My mistress is awake," the man said, with a very grave face, and
a very constrained manner; "and the gentlemen in attendance
desire me to say--"
He was interrupted, before he could give his message, by one of
the medical men, who had followed him into the room.
"I wish I had better news to communicate," began the doctor,
gently.
"She is worse, then?" said Fabio, sinking back into the chair
from which he had risen the moment before.
"She has awakened weaker instead of stronger after her sleep,"
returned the doctor, evasively. "I never like to give up all hope
till the very last, but--"
"It is cruel not to be candid with him," interposed another
voice--the voice of the doctor from Florence, who had just
entered the room. "Strengthen yourself to bear the worst," he
continued, addressing himself to Fabio. "She is dying. Can you
compose yourself enough to go to her bedside?"
Pale and speechless, Fabio rose from his chair, and made a sign
in the affirmative. He trembled so that the doctor who had first
spoken was obliged to lead him out of the room.
"Your mistress has some near relations in Pisa, has she not?"
said the doctor from Florence, appealing to the servant who
waited near him.
"Her father, sir, Signor Luca Lomi; and her uncle, Father Rocco,"
answered the man. "They were here all through the day, until my
mistress fell asleep.
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