be a suggestion of what actually had taken place, a
suggestion that the church should be searched ere they abandoned it? But
Ramiro's answer speedily relieved my fears.

"I'll take no risks," he barked. "Come! Let us go separately. I first,
and do you follow me and get clear of Pesaro as best you can." His voice
grew lower, and from what else he said I but caught the words, "Cesena"
and "to-morrow night," from which I gathered that he was appointing that
as their next meeting-place.

Ramiro went, and scarce had the echoes of his footsteps died away ere
the others followed in a rush, fearful of being caught in some trap that
was here laid for them, and but restrained from flying on the instant by
their still greater fear of that harsh master, Ramiro.

Thanking Heaven for this miraculous deliverance, and for the wit it
had lent me so to prepare a scene that should thoroughly mislead those
ravishers, I turned me now to Madonna Paola. Her breathing was grown
more heavy and more regular, so that in all respects she was as one
sleeping healthily. Soon I hoped that she might awaken, for to seek to
bear her thence and to the Palace in my arms would have been a madness.
And now it occurred to me that I should have restoratives at hand
against the time of her regaining consciousness. Inspiration suggested
to me the wine that should be stored in the sacristy for altar purposes.
It was unconsecrated, and there could be no sacrilege in using it.

I crept round to the front of the altar. At the angle a candle-branch
protruded, standing no higher than my head. It held some three or four
tapers, and was so placed to enable the priest to read his missal at
early Mass on dark winter mornings. I plucked one of the candles from
its socket, and hastening down the church, I lighted it from one of the
burning tapers of the bier. Screening it with my hand, I retraced my
steps and regained the chancel. Then turning to the left, I made for a
door that I knew should give access to the sacristy. It yielded to my
touch, and I passed down a short stone-flagged passage, and entered the
spacious chamber beyond. An oak settle was placed against one wall, and
above it hung an enormous, rudely-carved crucifix. Facing it against the
other wall loomed a huge piece of furniture, half-cupboard, half-buffet.
On a bench in a corner stood a basin and ewer of metal, whilst a few
vestments hanging beside these completed the furniture of this austere
and white