“Hawbury,” said he, “that’s good in you.  We’ve tried one another, haven’t we?  You’re a brick!  And I don’t need you to tell me what you think of me.  But if you could get a word into the ear of that cantankerous old lady, and just let her know what you know about me, it might move her.  You see you’re after her style, and I’m not; and she can’t see any thing but a man’s manner, which, after all, varies in all countries.  Now if you could speak a word for me, Hawbury—­”

“By Jove! my dear fellow, I’d be glad to do so—­I swear I would; but you don’t appear to know that I won’t have the chance.  They’re all going to leave Rome to-morrow morning.”

The Baron started as though he had been shot.

“What!” he cried, hoarsely.  “What’s that?  Leave Rome?”

“Yes.”

“And to-morrow morning?”

“Yes; Miss Fay told me herself—­”

“Miss Fay told you herself!  By Heaven!  What do they mean by that?” And the Baron sat trembling with excitement.

“Well, the holy week’s over.”

“Darn it all, that’s got nothing to do with it!  It’s me!  They’re trying to get her from me!  How are they going?  Do you know?”

“They are going in a carriage by the way of Civita Castellana.”

“In a carriage by the way of Civita Castellana!  Darn that old idiot of a woman! what’s she up to now?  If she’s running away from me, she’ll wish herself back before she gets far on that road.  Why, there’s an infernal nest of brigands there that call themselves Garibaldians; and, by thunder, the woman’s crazy!  They’ll be seized and held to ransom—­perhaps worse.  Heavens!  I’ll go mad!  I’ll run and tell them.  But no; they won’t see me.  What’ll I do?  And Minnie!  I can’t give her up.  She can’t give me up.  She’s a poor, trembling little creature; her whole life hangs on mine.  Separation from me would kill her.  Poor little girl!  Separation!  By thunder, they shall never separate us!  What devil makes the old woman go by that infernal road?  Brigands all the way!  But I’ll go after them; I’ll follow them.  They’ll find it almighty hard work to keep her from me!  I’ll see her, by thunder! and I’ll get her out of their clutches!  I swear I will!  I’ll bring her back here to Rome, and I’ll get the Pope himself to bind her to me with a knot that all the old women under heaven can never loosen!”

“What!  You’re going?  By Jove! that’s odd, for I’m going with a friend on the same road.”

“Good again!  Three cheers!  And you’ll see the old woman, and speak a good word for me?”

“If I see her and get a chance, I certainly will, by Jove!”

CHAPTER XXI.

AN EVENTFUL JOURNEY.

On the day following two carriages rolled out of Rome, and took the road toward Florence by the way of Civita Castellana.  One carriage held four ladies; the other one was occupied by four lady’s-maids and the luggage of the party.