He crossed the pavement bareheaded and leaped into his sail-boat. A moment later, from the bridge, she saw through clouding tears the light craft careening down the Arno toward the sea.
The agitated ripple of the audience that followed their exit was not yet stilled when the discourse was strangely interrupted. From the pavement came the sound of running feet, a hoarse shout and a shot, ringing out sharply on the Sabbath stillness.
A second later a man dashed panting into the outer hall with a British marine at his heels.
CHAPTER LII
TREVANION IN THE TOILS
In sending Trevanion that day to the barracks on the Lung’ Arno—whose door Cassidy had once seen him enter and in whose vicinity the naval surgeon, following this clue, had posted his squad of tars—luck had fallen oddly. The coursed hare has small choice of burrow. The Lanfranchi entrance was the quarry’s only loophole and he took it.
As the hunted man sprang across the threshold he snatched the great iron key from the lock and swung it on the head of his pursuer. The marine dropped with a cut forehead, falling full in the doorway of the room where the service was in progress.
Instantly the gathering was in confusion. The sermon ceased, women screamed and their escorts poured into the hall to meet Cassidy, entering from the street, flushed and exultant, with a half-dozen more blue-jackets.
His foremost pursuer fallen, Trevanion leaped like a stag for the stair. But half-way up he stopped at sight of a figure from whom he could hope no grace. Gordon had heard the signal-shot, armed himself and hastened to the stairway.
For once in his life Cassidy was oblivious of things religious. He had forgot the afternoon’s service. He scarcely saw Dr. Nott’s horror-lifted hands as his cassock fluttered between frightened worshipers to the door. His look did not travel to Gordon or beyond, where Teresa’s agitated face watched palely. His round, peering eyes fastened with malignant triumph on the lowering figure midway of the marble ascent.
“Now, my fine ensign,” he said with exultation, “what have you to say to a trip to the Pylades?”