FOUND AT LAST.
In a few moments Girasole came back and entered Minnie's room. He was followed by a woman who was dressed in the garb of an Italian peasant girl. Over her head she wore a hood to protect her from the night air, the limp folds of which hung over her face. Minnie looked carelessly at this woman and then at Girasole.
"Charming mees," said Girasole, "I haf brought you a maid for dis night. When we leaf dis you sall haf what maid you wis."
"That horrid old fright!" said Minnie. "I don't want her."
"You sall only haf her for dis night," said Girasole. "You will be taken care for."
"I suppose nobody cares for what I want," said Minnie, "and I may as well speak to the wall, for all the good it does."
Girasole smiled and bowed, and put his hand on his heart, and then called down the stairs:
"Padre Patricio!"
A solid, firm step now sounded on the stairs, and in a few moments the priest came up. Girasole led the way into Hawbury's room. The prisoner lay on his side. He was in a deep sleep. Girasole looked in wonder at the sleeper who was spending in this way the last hours of his life, and then pointed to the coffin.
"Here," said he, in Italian, "is the body. When the grave is dug they will tell you. You must stay here. You will not be afraid to be with the dead."