“I—­I suppose so, Nino,” she said, in a choking sob.

“Now, by Heaven, you shall not!” He clasped her in his arms, raising her suddenly to her feet.  Her head fell back upon his shoulder, and he could see her turn pale to the very lips, for his sight was softened to the gloom, and her eyes shone like stars of fire at him from beneath the half-closed lids.  But the faint glory of coming happiness was already on her face, and he knew that the last fight was fought for love’s mastery.

“Shall we ever part again, love?” he whispered, close to her.  She shook her head, her starry eyes still fastened on his.

“Then come, my own dear one,—­come,” and he gently drew her with him.  He glanced, naturally enough, at the step where they had sat, and something dark caught his eye just above it.  Holding her hand in one of his, as though fearful lest she should escape him, he stooped quickly and snatched the thing from the stair with the other.  It was Hedwig’s little bundle.

“What have you here?” he asked.  “Oh, Hedwig, you said you would not come?” he added, half laughing, as he discovered what it was.

“I was not sure that I should like you, Nino,” she said, as he again put his arm about her.  Hedwig started violently.  “What is that?” she exclaimed, in a terrified whisper.

“What, love?”

“The noise!  Oh, Nino, there is someone on the staircase, coming down.  Quick,—­quick!  Save me, for love’s sake!”

But Nino had heard, too, the clumsy but rapid groping of heavy feet on the stairs above, far up in the winding stone steps, but momentarily coming nearer.  Instantly he pushed Hedwig out to the street, tossing the bundle on the ground, withdrew the heavy key, shut the door, and double turned the lock from the outside, removing the key again at once.  Nino is a man who acts suddenly and infallibly in great emergencies.  He took Hedwig in his arms, and ran with her to where the mules were standing, twenty yards away.

The stout countryman from Subiaco, who had spent some years in breaking stones out of consideration for the Government, as a general confession of the inaccuracy of his views regarding foreigners, was by no means astonished when he saw Nino appear with a woman in his arms.  Together they seated her on one of the mules, and ran beside her, for there was no time for Nino to mount.  They had to pass the door, and through all its oaken thickness they could hear the curses and imprecations of someone inside, and the wood and iron shook with repeated blows and kicks.  The quick-witted muleteer saw the bundle lying where Nino had tossed it, and he picked it up as he ran.

Both Nino and Hedwig recognised Benoni’s voice, but neither spoke as they hurried up the street into the bright moonlight, she riding and Nino running as he led the other beast at a sharp trot.  In five minutes they were out of the little town, and Nino, looking back, could see that the broad white way behind them was clear of all pursuers.  Then he himself mounted, and the countryman trotted by his side.