"Yes," replied her lover, "but I hope we have time. I have prepared everything for your flight. My carriage and postilions await you in the next street. Be quick, and you may escape."
"Yes, yes," exclaimed she. "Give me but one moment." She flew to her dressing-room, and tried to carry her two boxes. But the ducats were too heavy.
"I must leave the jewels," said she; and climbing up again with her casket, she concealed it in the wall, and replaced the picture. "It is, at all events, perfectly safe, and Giuseppe will come for it."
"Come!" cried Szekuly from the drawing-room.
"I come," answered she, while she wrapped a cloak about her and with trembling hands tied on her travelling-hat.
"Give me your box," said Szekuly, "it will impede your movements."
But she held it fast, and said: "No—they are my jewels, now my only riches."
"And you are afraid to trust them with me?" asked he, with a bitter smile—"to me, who will die of your treachery!"
"People do not die so easily," said she, trying to smile; but her teeth chattered, as she flew rather than ran down the grand staircase and arrived breathless before the door. The porter opened it in wonder. The night-air blew into her face, and revived her courage. Now she might breathe freely, for she was—
But no! From the dark recesses of the stone portico emerged three muffled figures, and one of them laid his rough grasp upon the delicate arm of the countess and dragged her back into the vestibule.