The instant the door was closed behind her, Don Camillo was in the group, and the whole four stood regarding each other in a common panic.
"Canst thou still hesitate, father ?" demanded the lover.
"Not a moment, my son, did I see the means of accomplishing flight." "How! Thou wilt not then desert me!" exclaimed Violetta, kissing his hands in joy.

"Nor thou, my second mother!" "Neither," answered the governess, who possessed intuitive means of comprehending the resolutions of the monk; "we will go with thee, love, to the Castle of St.Agata, or to the dungeon of St.Mark." "Virtuous and sainted Florinda, receive my thanks!" cried the reprieved Violetta, clasping her hands on her bosom, with an emotion in which piety and gratitude were mingled.

"Camillo, we await thy guidance." "Refrain," observed the monk; "a footstep--thy concealment." Don Camillo was scarce hid from view when Annina reappeared.

She had the same suspicious manner of glancing her eye around, as the official, and it would seem, by the idle question she put, that her entrance had some other object than the mere pretence which she made of consulting her new mistress's humor in the color of a robe.
"Do as thou wilt, girl," said Violetta, with impatience; "thou knowest the place of my intended retirement, and can'st judge of the fitness of my attire.

Hasten thy preparations, that I be not the cause of delay.
Enrico, attend my new maid to the wardrobe." Annina reluctantly withdrew, for she was far too much practised in wiles not to distrust this unexpected compliance with the will of the council, or not to perceive that she was admitted with displeasure to the discharge of her new duties.