Come! take your hood and fan--it is getting dark--nobody will see
us, and we can come back here, if you like, in half an hour."
Mademoiselle Virginie acceded to her friend's wish rather
reluctantly. They walked toward the river. The sun was down, and
the sudden night of Italy was gathering fast. Although Brigida
did not say another word on the subject of Fabio or his wife, she
led the way to the bank of the Arno, on which the young
nobleman's palace stood.
Just as they got near the great door of entrance, a sedan-chair,
approaching in the opposite direction, was set down before it;
and a footman, after a moment's conference with a lady inside the
chair, advanced to the porter's lodge in the courtyard. Leaving
her friend to go on, Brigida slipped in after the servant by the
open wicket, and concealed herself in the shadow cast by the
great closed gates.
"The Marchesa Melani, to inquire how the Countess d'Ascoli and
the infant are this evening," said the footman.
"My mistress has not changed at all for the better since the
morning," answered the porter. "The child is doing quite well."
The footman went back to the sedan-chair; then returned to the
porter's lodge.
"The marchesa desires me to ask if fresh medical advice has been
sent for," he said.
"Another doctor has arrived from Florence to-day," replied the
porter.
Mademoiselle Virginie, missing her friend suddenly, turned back
toward the palace to look after her, and was rather surprised to
see Brigida slip out of the wicket-gate.
Pages:
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444