And the two quietly drank to his health with their eyes turned toward the North.
"Good luck to you, Captain!" said the doctor. "You will return promptly and with all happiness, since you are working for such a just cause. We shall never forget your services."
Freya wished to accompany him, even to the boat. The count began a protest, but stopped on seeing the good-natured gesture of the sentimental lady.
"They love each other so much!… Something must be conceded to love…."
The three went down the sloping streets of Chiaja to the shore of S. Lucia. In spite of his preoccupation, Ferragut could not but look attentively at the count's appearance. He was now dressed in blue, with a yachts-man's black cap, as though prepared to take part in a regatta. He had undoubtedly adopted this attire in order to make the farewell more solemn.
In the gardens of the Villa Nazionale Kaledine stopped, giving an order to Freya. He could not permit her to go any further. She would attract attention in the little harbor dell' Ovo frequented only by fishermen. As the tone of his order was sharp and imperious, she obeyed without protest, as though accustomed to such superiority.
"Good-bye!… Good-bye."
Forgetting the presence of the haughty witness, she embraced Ulysses ardently; then she burst out weeping with a nervous sobbing. It seemed to him that she had never been so sincere as in that moment. And he had to make a great effort to disentangle himself from her embrace.
"Good-bye!… Good-bye!…"
Then he followed the count without daring to turn his head, suspecting that her eyes were still upon him.