to the Italian, retraced his road to
Norwood, the slow pace of his horse was significant of his own exhausted
spirits; a deep dejection had succeeded to feverish excitement. "Vain
task," he murmured, "to wean myself from the dead! Yet I am now
betrothed to another; and she, with all her virtues, is not the one
to--" He stopped short in generous self-rebuke. "Too late to think of
that! Now, all that should remain to me is to insure the happiness of
the life to which I have pledged my own. But--" He sighed as he so
murmured. On reaching the vicinity of Riccabocca's house, he put up his
horse at a little inn, and proceeded on foot across the heath-land
towards the dull square building, which Leonard's description had
sufficed to indicate as the exile's new home. It was long before any one
answered his summons at the gate. Not till he had thrice rung did he
hear a heavy step on the gravel walk within; then the wicket within the
gate was partially drawn aside, a dark eye gleamed out, and a voice in
imperfect English asked who was there.

"Lord L'Estrange; and if I am right as to the person I seek, that name
will at once admit me."

The door flew open as did that of the mystic cavern at the sound of
"Open Sesame;" and Giacomo, almost weeping with joyous emotion,
exclaimed in Italian, "The good Lord! Holy San Giacomo! thou hast heard
me at last! We are safe now." And dropping the blunderbuss with which he
had taken the precaution to arm himself, he lifted Harley's hand to his
lips, in the affectionate greeting familiar to his countrymen.

"And the Padrone?" asked Harley, as he entered the jealous precincts.

"Oh, he is just gone out; but he will not be long. You will wait for
him?"

"Certainly. What lady is that I see at the far end of the garden?"

"Bless her, it is our Signorina. I will run and tell her that you are
come."

"That I am come; but she cannot know me even by name."

"Ah, Excellency, can you think so? Many and many a time has she talked
to me of you, and I have heard her pray to the holy Madonna to bless
you, and in a voice so sweet--"

"Stay, I will present myself to her. Go into the house, and we will wait
without for the Padrone. Nay, I need the air, my friend." Harley, as he
said this, broke from Giacomo, and approached Violante.

The poor child, in her solitary walk in the obscurer parts of the dull
garden, had escaped the eye of Giacomo when he had gone forth to answer
the bell; and she, unconsc