"No, we must n't forget him. Oh, no, we won't. But, Andrea, I—I 've got another piece of news for you." The Countess spoke with a little timidity, as if she were trying delicate ground, and were not quite sure of her footing.
"More news? What an eventful night!"
He took his wife's hand. Away went all thoughts of poor Dieppe again.
"Yes, it's so lucky, happening just to-night. Lucia has come back! An hour ago!"
"Lucia come back!" exclaimed the Count, gladly. "That's good news, indeed."
"It 'll delight her so much to find us—to find us like this again, Andrea."
"Yes, yes, we must send for her. Is she in her room? And where has she come from?"
"Rome," answered the Countess, again in a rather nervous way.
"Rome!" cried the Count in surprise. "What took her to Rome?"
"She does n't like to be asked much about it," began the Countess, with a prudent air.