Barely had he got through a dozen protestations when there was the flashing of a few rays from a dark lantern all up and down the garden walks, and there was the cranching of the don’s heavy legs in the gravel, followed by the lighter walk of the intriguing doctor.
The doctor quite cleverly showed the little lantern rays as he slid behind from tree to tree, and as he did not see Ernesto glide away to the house.
All of a sudden, and with a terrific lunge, he dashed before Norina, and started open the dark little lantern full in her face.
“Thieves! thieves!”
“Hush, ma’am, where is he?”
“Who, the thief—thieves! thieves!”
“No, ma’am, he—who was whispering in your ear.”
“Sir, how dare you. There was no one here.”
Whereon the don shot the dark lantern all round and about, like clock-work.
“Sir, I say again, how DARE you, there was no one here.”