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[Illustration: Decoration]


THE CONQUEST OF ROME

_By_
MATILDE SERAO

AUTHOR OF
"THE LAND OF COCKAYNE"
"THE BALLET DANCER" ETC.

[Illustration: Logo]

HARPER & BROTHERS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
PUBLISHERS.. 1902


[Illustration: Decoration]

Published October, 1902




PART I




CHAPTER I


The train stopped.

'Capua! Capua!' three or four voices cried monotonously into the night.

A clanking of swords dragged on the ground was heard, and some lively
muttering that passed between a Lombard and a Piedmontese. It came from
a group of subaltern officers, who were ending their evening's amusement
in coming to see the night