"Many thanks, signora!" replied the bandit. "I have no desire to take your servants and the signor marquis's into my confidence. To-morrow morning Abbé Ninfo, whose discernment exceeds their discretion, would learn that a mountaineer came out of your apartments whom nobody had seen go in; and the excellent abbé, thinking that that performance savored somewhat of the bravo, would insult me by withdrawing the confidence with which he honors me. I must be his fidus Achates and his very good friend for twelve hours more. I will go out with Michel as I came."
"And when shall I see you again?" said Agatha, courageously offering him her hand, despite the lustful flame in his unshrinking eyes.
"You will not see me again," he replied, putting one knee to the floor and kissing her hand with a sort of frenzy in marked contrast to the humility of his attitude, "until your orders are carried out. I cannot fix the day and hour, but I will answer for the safety of all your friends—even the stout doctor—with my life! I know the way to your Casino. When I ring one, three and seven at the gate of your flower-garden, will your ladyship deign to admit me to your presence?"
"You can rely upon it, captain," she replied, giving no sign of the alarm caused her by that request.
The Marquis della Serra did not fail to take his leave at the same time that the two young men went from the boudoir into the garden. His respect for the princess was so punctilious that he would not for the world have assumed the attitude of a favored lover. But he descended the staircase of the palace slowly, still disturbed in mind, and ready to go up again at the slightest noise.
On leaving the garden, the Piccinino locked the gate himself and handed the key to Michel, reproaching him for his carelessness.
"Except for me," he said, "this all-important key—this key that cannot be replaced—would have been left in the lock."
A moment's self-possession, before entering the boudoir, had sufficed for the bandit to take the impression of the key on a lump of wax which he always carried with him for emergencies.
They had no sooner started down the staircase cut in the rock than Agatha's maid, who was entirely devoted to her, came to her and said:
"The young man whom your highness sent for is waiting in the picture gallery."