“But where is Tony? Is he safe? How are we to hear of him?” asked Alice, hurriedly.
“Skeff has undertaken all that, Alice. You know how he has relations with men of every party, and is equally at home with the wildest followers of Mazzini and the courtiers about the throne. He says he 'll send off a confidential messenger at once to Garibaldi's camp with a letter for Tony. Indeed, it was all I could do to prevent him going himself, he is so attached to Tony, but I begged and implored him not to go.”
“Tony would have done as much for him,” said Alice, gloomily.
“Perhaps he would; but remember the difference between the men, Alice. If anything should befall Skeffy, who is there to replace him?”
Alice, perhaps, could not satisfactorily answer this, for she lay back on her bed, and covered her face with her hands.
“Not, indeed, that he would listen to me when I made that appeal to him, but he kept on repeating, 'Tony is the finest, truest-hearted fellow I ever met. He'd never have left a friend in the lurch; he'd never have thought of himself if another was in danger; and help him I must and will:' and that's the reason we are waiting dinner, dear, for he would go off to the Minister of War or the President of the Council; and he told papa, as he shook hands, on no account to wait for him, for he might be detained longer than he expected.”
As she spoke, a tap came to the door, and a servant announced dinner.
“Has Mr. Damer arrived?” asked Bella, eagerly.
“No, ma'am, but Sir Arthur has just got a note from him.”
“I must see what he says!” cried she, and left the room.