The road stretched long and flat, in a perfectly straight line before them for a great distance.

"Yes," continued he, "there is certainly something coming along the road;--a carriage by the quickness with which it nears us: now for it!" "Tell him to draw up, Ludovico; and he might as well turn round so as to be ready to drive back.

We will wait here till she comes; and our friends on horseback may as well remain here too," said the Marchese.
So the little party drew up, and all eyes were turned to the small cloud of dust rapidly approaching them.
"Yes: it is a carriage, and no mistake; and coming along at a good pace too!" said Manutoli.
"It is she, no doubt; she was to sleep at Bagnacavallo," returned Ludovico.
"Signori!" said the Marchese, addressing the four, or five mounted officers, "will you kindly put your horses across the road, so that the lady's driver may see that he is to stop, and that there may be no mistake." And then an open carriage became clearly visible, and in the next minute, it could be seen that it was occupied by two persons;--a lady and another figure--an old man apparently--muffled in a huge blue travelling-cloak.
Then in another instant the travelling-carriage, finding the road blocked before it, had stopped, and in the next, the Marchese Lamberto, hat in hand, was standing at the door of it, on the lady's side;--the two young men standing immediately behind him, and the horsemen crowded round, craning over the necks of their horses.
Oh! per Bacco! There is no mistake about it; she is startlingly beautiful.

Report had not said half enough.

And, somehow or other, it appeared as if a travelling-costume was specially becoming to her.