Lolah sank on her knees, and remained for a few moments with her face hidden between her hands in earnest prayer. Rising from the ground, she hastily addressed Stefano.
"Will you remain here and wait as long as you dare for the Count's arrival? I will return in a few minutes; I only go to make some brief preparation for our flight."
"Your flight?" ejaculated the boatman, "you are in no danger."
"It matters not," answered she passionately; "I will not leave my husband's side."
Ten minutes had scarcely elapsed, when she reappeared in a plain dark travelling dress, and dragging with her a large horseman's cloak.
"This will conceal him, as he must stay for no change of apparel. But can it be so long? why, it is a quarter of an hour since you told me we had but half a one?" and the gay and fairy chime of the timepiece told four o'clock.
"It is very dark still," said she, looking from the window.
"Yes, lady, it is very dark, the moon set an hour ago; but do not you lean out, the night-dew is falling heavily."
Again Lolah turned to the timepiece, the hand marked that five minutes more had passed away; she looked to Stefano, but he only shook his head and muttered some indistinct sound. A little rosary of coral and of the many-coloured lavas of Vesuvius
