"Perhaps you might help me a little here," she said.
"If you will let me put your feet on the right step, it will be easier," he answered.
"Yes. Do that, please. Show me the place first."
"There. Do you see? Now!"
He laid his hand firmly upon her small russet shoe, guided the little foot to a safe position and steadied it there a moment.
"So," he said. "Now the next. There are only four or five more."
She was rather sorry that there were so few, for they seemed delightfully safe, or just dangerous enough to be amusing; she was not quite sure which. Women never analyze the present, unless it is utterly dull.
At the bottom of the descent, both looked up, and saw at a glance that poor old Sassi could never get down, even with assistance. He seemed unable to put his foot down without slipping, in spite of Masin's help.
"I think you had better not try it," said Malipieri quietly. "In a few days I am sure that the Senator will have a way broken through from above, and then it will be easy enough."
"Yes," answered the old man regretfully. "I will go back again to the other side and wait for you."