He bowed, the door opened and shut noiselessly--he was gone.
Slowly I broke the seal of that fateful letter; a letter from Guido Ferrari, a warrant self-signed, for his own execution! "My best friend," so it ran, "you will guess by the 'black flag' on my envelope the good news I have to give you.

My uncle is dead AT LAST, thank God! and I am left his sole heir unconditionally.

I am free, and shall of course return to Naples immediately, that is, as soon as some trifling law business has been got through with the executors.

I believe I can arrange my return for the 23d or 24th instant, but will telegraph to you the exact day, and, if possible, the exact hour.

Will you oblige me by NOT announcing this to the countess, as I wish to take her by surprise.