"Augusta, love, is there no sign yet of our guests? Look if you can see the carriage. They should have been here long ago."
"No, mamma dear, I see nothing. We shall hear the wheels first, for the orange-trees hide the turn in the road."
"No sign of Lennox yet?" said the Marquis, entering the verandah. "'Pon my word they are taking it easily."
"Indeed, I am beginning to feel nervous,—the roads are so unsafe. I wish they had started earlier," said the Countess.
"Pooh! you are always thinking of the brigands. I tell you Lennox wrote to say he would take guards."
"I know; but that Luigi is such a dreadful man! I quite dread going drives. And if he heard of my jewels coming,—he gets news of everything. I do hope nothing will happen."
"Never a fear. Young Lennox is a smart fellow. They will come all right. They are armed, and the sbirri with them. Luigi knows too well to risk an attack."
"I hear the clatter of a horse, mamma," said Augusta. "Ah! see, here he comes. How he rides; and he is stopping at our gate."
"Oh! I hope there is nothing wrong. Do go and see, Arranmore. How my heart beats!"
Lord Arranmore, without waiting to be asked, had left the balcony, and at the porch learned the dreadful tidings from the postilion, who, almost dead with terror, crossing himself and calling every saint to his aid, by broken sentences told all, producing also the ensanguined scarf.