Oh, by the way, the countess requests that you will wait here a few minutes--she has a message for you--she will not detain you long.

I should recommend you to get back to your hotel as soon as you can, and take some good wine.

A rivederci! Anything I can do for you pray command me!" And with a cordial shake of the hand he left me, and I heard the street door close behind him.

Again I paced wearily up and down, wrapped in sorrowful musings.

I did not hear a stealthy tread on the carpet behind me, so that when I turned round abruptly, I was startled to find myself face to face with old Giacomo, who held out a note to me on a silver salver, and who meanwhile peered at me with his eager eyes in so inquisitive a manner that I felt almost uneasy.
"And so the little angel is dead!" he murmured in a thin, quavering voice.