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rForliwhenanythinghappenstoyou.'
Thepeopleansweredinshouts.Butatthatmomentanothersoundwasheardwithout—alongandheavymurmur.Thepeoplesurroundingthedoorwaylookedoutandturnedinastonishmenttotheirneighbours,pointingtothestreetthemurmurspread.Whatwasit?
'Makeway!Makeway!'
Astridentvoicecalledoutthewords,andusherspushedthepeopleaside.Alittletroopofmenappearedintheentrance,andastheysankbacktheresteppedforwardtheCount.TheCount!Checcostarted,butimmediatelyrecoveringhimselfadvancedtomeethisvisitor.Girolamowalkeduptohim,andtakinghiminhisarmskissedhimonthecheeks,andsaid,—
'MyChecco!MyChecco!'
Wewhoknewandtheotherswhosuspectedlookedonwithastonishment.
'AssoonasIheardtheterriblenewsIrushedtofindyou,'saidtheCount.'Areyousafe—quitesafe?'
Heembracedhimagain.
'YoucannotthinkwhatagonyIsufferedwhenIheardyouwerewounded.HowgladIamitwasnottrue.Oh,GodinHeaven,IthankTheeformyChecco!'
'Youareverykind,mylord,'answeredourfriend.
'Butitissomeconsolationthatthemiscreantshavemettheendwhichtheydeserved.Wemusttakestepstofreethetownofallsuchdang
