“Certain,” was the reply. “Antonio described its situation so clearly——”
“Then why did he not join us?”
“How do I know? But that need not prevent us——”
Nisida at this moment raised the lamp from the fire-place, and the light flashing at that end of the room, produced a sudden start and ejaculation on the part of the banditti.
“Perdition!” cried Stephano, “what can this mean?”
Nisida advanced toward the robbers in a manner so calm, so dignified, so imperious, and so totally undaunted by their presence, that they were for a moment paralyzed and rooted to the spot as if they were confronted by a specter.
But at the next instant Stephano uttered an exclamation of mingled surprise and joy, adding, “By my patron saint! Lomellino, this is the very lady of whom I spoke to you the other evening!”
“What, the one who did the business so well in——”
“Yes, yes,” cried Stephano hastily; “you know what I mean—in Wagner’s garden! But——”
Nisida had in the meantime drawn from her bosom one of the slips of paper before alluded to; and, handing it to the bandit-chief, she made a hasty and imperious motion for him to read it.