e called.

Garibaldi looked around and obediently trotted off. The car started,
and the King waved especially to Lucia as he passed, but even so great
an honor could not compensate her. She was mortified to tears that her
goat should have been guilty of _lese majeste_.

No entreaties on Beppi's part could make her stay to wait for the
King's return. She left him with a soldier, and went around the corner
of the convent, followed by the disgraced Garibaldi.

She sat down on a bench and sighed.

"Of course you're only a goat," she said scornfully, "but I did think
you had more sense than to do anything as terrible as that. Do you
know who that was that you made to stop? That was the King, do you
hear?"

Garibaldi walked away indifferently.

"Oh, I am disgusted with you forever," Lucia exclaimed with a shrug of
disdain. "You will stay here until he goes away again, and then I
shall take you home and tie you up."

Garibaldi paid no attention to the threat. Perhaps she knew how empty
it would prove to be.

"Lucia, Lucia, my child, where are you?" Sister Francesca's voice
trembled as she called.

"Here I am, sister," Lucia jumped up. "Do you want me?"

"Oh, my dear, I have looked everywhere for you. Come with me at once."

Lucia followed, wondering at the expression in the nun's usually placid
face. But Sister Francesca did not stop to give any explanations. She
led the way hurriedly back to the front door, of the convent, and up
the steps through the ward of smiling men, and only stopped when she
reached the door of Captain Riccardi's private room.

"Go in, my dear," she said, giving Lucia a little push. "The Captain
wants to speak to you."

Lucia opened the door and found herself face to face with the King.

She was too astonished, and far too thrilled to speak. She must have
shown some of her feeling in her eyes, for the Captain, who was in bed,
laughed.

"Here she is, Your Majesty," he said.

The King stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder.

"So you are the brave little girl whom I must thank for saving Captain
Riccardi's life, and for blowing up the bridge?"

Lucia was still tongue-tied. She swallowed hard and tried to stop her
heart from beating so fast.

"Yes, yes, sir--Your Majesty," she said at last. "I and Garibaldi."

"Garibaldi?" The King could not restrain a smile.

"The goat, sir," the Captain explained.

"Oh, I see, and what did you say his name was?"

"G