eir captive aside. The rest made a search through the
house. While they were doing so Luigi saw Barto Rizzo's face at the
windows of the house opposite. He clamoured at the door, but Barto was
denied to him there. When the polizia had gone from the court, he was
admitted and allowed to look into every room. Not finding him, he said,
"Barto Rizzo does not keep his appointments, then!" The same words were
repeated in his ear when he had left the court, and was in the street
running parallel with it. "Barto Rizzo does not keep his appointments,
then!" It was Barto who smacked him on the back, and spoke out his own
name with brown-faced laughter in the bustling street. Luigi was so
impressed by his cunning and his recklessness that he at once told him
more than he wished to tell:--The Austrian officer was with his sister,
and had written to the signorina, and Luigi had delivered the letter; but
the signorina was at the maestro's, Rocco Ricci's, and there was no
answer: the officer was leaving for Verona in the morning. After telling
so much, Luigi drew back, feeling that he had given Barto his full
measure and owed to the signorina what remained.

Barto probably read nothing of the mind of his spy, but understood that
it was a moment for distrust of him. Vittoria and her mother lodged at
the house of one Zotti, a confectioner, dwelling between the Duomo and La
Scala. Luigi, at Barto's bidding, left word with Zotti that he would call
for the signorina's answer to a certain letter about sunrise. "I promised
my Rosellina, my poppyheaded sipper, a red-wine evening, or I would hold
this fellow under my eye till the light comes," thought Barto
misgivingly, and let him go. Luigi slouched about the English lady's
hotel. At nightfall her brother came forth. Luigi directed him to be in
the square of the Duomo by sunrise, and slipped from his hold; the
officer ran after him some distance. "She can't say I was false to her
now," said Luigi, dancing with nervous ecstasy. At sunrise Barto Rizzo
was standing under the shadow of the Duomo. Luigi passed him and went to
Zotti's house, where the letter was placed in his hand, and the door shut
in his face. Barto rushed to him, but Luigi, with a vixenish countenance,
standing like a humped cat, hissed, "Would you destroy my reputation and
have it seen that I deliver up letters, under the noses of the writers,
to the wrong persons?--ha! pestilence!" He ran, Barto following him. They
were crossed