Pracontal arose and followed him.

The old man walked with a firm and rapid step. He descended the stairs
that led to the Piazza del Popolo, crossed the wide piazza, and issued
from the gate out upon the Campagna, and skirting the ancient wall, was
soon lost to view among the straggling hovels which cluster at intervals
beneath the ramparts. Pracontal continued to walk behind him, his
head sunk on his bosom, and his steps listless and uncertain, like one
walking in sleep. Neither were seen more after that night.

CHAPTER LXIX. THE LAST OF ALL.

All the emissaries had returned to the villa except Sedley, who found
himself obliged to revisit England suddenly, but from whom came a few
lines of telegram, stating that the "case of Pracontal de Bramleigh v.
Bramleigh had been struck out of the cause list; Kelson a heavy loser,
having made large advances to plaintiff."

"Was n't it like the old fox to add this about his colleague? As if any
of us cared about Kelson, or thought of him!"

"Good fortune is very selfish, I really believe," said Nelly. "We have
done nothing but talk of ourselves, our interests, and our intentions
for the last four days, and the worst of it is we don't seem tired of
doing so yet."

"It would be a niggardly thing to deny us that pleasure, seeing what we
have passed through to reach it," cried Jack.

"Who 'll write to Marion with the news?" said Augustus.

"Not I," said Jack; "or if I do it will be to sign myself 'late Sam
Rogers.'"

"If George accepts the embassy chaplaincy," said Julia, "he can convey
the tidings by word of mouth."

"To guess by his dreary face," said Jack, "one would say he had really
closed with that proposal. What's the matter, old fellow; has the
general joy here not warmed your heart?"

L'Estrange, pale and red alternately, blundered out a few scarcely
coherent words; and Julia, who well knew what feelings were agitating
him, and how the hopes that adversity had favored might be dashed, now
that a brighter fortune had dawned, came quickly to his rescue, and
said, "I see what George is thinking of. George is wondering when we
shall all be as happy and as united again, as we have been here, under
this dear old roof."

"But why should we not?" broke in Augustus. "I mean to keep the
anniversary of our meeting here, and assemble you all every year at this
place. Perhaps I have forgotten to tell you that I am the owner of the
villa. I have signed the contract