The third day passed like the second, and the fourth began without promising any change. Adele appeared as usual at eleven o'clock and spent an hour with Ghisleri. They were becoming more intimate by this time than they had ever been before during their long acquaintance, and Adele flattered herself that she had made an impression. Ghisleri would not forget the hospitality she had offered him, and next year would be more often seen in the circle of her admirers. She even imagined that he might fall into a sort of mild and harmless flirtation, if she knew how to manage him.
A little before the hour for breakfast she went to her room. Lucia was there, as usual, waiting in case she should be needed. As she retouched Adele's hair, and gave a final twist with the curling tongs to the ringlets at the back of her mistress's neck, she began to speak in a low voice and in a somewhat hurried manner.
"I have found out who took the letter, Excellency," she said. "It is in a safe place and no one else has seen it. The person will give it to me at once if the reward is large enough."
Adele's eyes sparkled, and a little colour rose in her cheeks. Lucia watched the reflection of her face in the mirror.
"How much does she ask?" she inquired, without hesitation, and with a certain business-like sharpness in her tone.
There was a moment's pause, as Lucia withdrew the tongs from the little curl.
"She asks five thousand francs," she said, in some trepidation, for she had hardly ever in her life even spoken of so large a sum.
"That is a great deal," answered Adele, pretending to be surprised, while doing her best to conceal her satisfaction. "I have not so much money out here; indeed, Don Francesco has not either. She must wait until we go to Rome."
"A year, if your Excellency pleases," said the maid, blowing scent upon a transparent handkerchief from an atomizer.
"In the meanwhile I should like to have the letter. I suppose she would accept my promise—written, if she requires it?"