XXXVI
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THEnightcame,andwheneveryonehadgonetobedandthetownwasquiet,IsaidtoAndrea,'Waitformehere,andifIdonotcomebackintwohoursyouwillknow—'
Heinterruptedme.
'Iamcomingwithyou.'
'Nonsense!'Isaid.'Idon'tknowwhatdangertheremaybe,andthereisnoobjectinyourexposingyourselftoit.'
'WhereyougoIwillgotoo.'
Iarguedwithhim,buthewasanobstinateyouth.
Wewalkedalongthedarkstreets,runninglikethievesroundcornerswhenweheardtheheavyfootstepsofthewatch.ThePalazzoAstewasalldarkwewaitedoutsidealittlewhile,butnoonecame,andIdarednotknock.ThenIrememberedthesidedoor.Istillhadthekey,andItookitfrommypocket.
'Waitoutside,'IsaidtoAndrea.
'No,Iamcomingwithyou.'
'Perhapsthereisanambush.'
'Twoaremorelikelytoescapethanone.'
Iputthekeyinthelock,andasIdidsomyheartbeatandmyhandtrembled,butnotwithfear.Thekeyturned,andIpushedthedooropen.Weenteredandwalkedupthestairs.SensationswhichIhadforgottencrowdeduponme,andmyheartturnedsick....Wecametoanante-roomdimlylit.IsignedAndreatowait,andmyselfpassedintotheroomIknewtoowell.ItwasthatinwhichIhadlastseenGiulia—theGiuliaIhadloved—andnothingwasalteredinit.Thesamecouchstoodinthecentre,andonitlayGiulia,sleeping.Shestartedup.
'Filippo!'
'Atyourservice,madam.'
'Luciarecognisedyouinthestreetyesterday,andshefollowedyoutothehouseinwh
