"She was in the middle of a _pirouette_ when the door opened, and the innkeeper entering, whispered something in the captain's ear. "'_Ove sono_?' said the latter, quietly. 'Where are they?' "'A San Dalmazio.' "'No nearer? Then there is no hurry.' "'What is the matter?' said Rina, executing a magnificent _entrechat_. "'Nothing. Only those rascally travellers have given the alarm at Florence, and the hussars of the Grand-duchess Eliza are looking for us.' "'They are too late for the performance,' said Rina, laughing. 'I have finished my dance.' "It was lucky, for the bow had fallen from my hands at the news I had just heard. Rina made one bound to the door, and then turning, as if she had been on the stage, curtsied to the audience, and kissed her hand to the captain. The applause was deafening; I doubt if she had ever had such a triumph. "'And now, to arms!' cried the captain. 'Prepare a horse for Rina and another for the musician. _We_ will go on foot. The road to Romagna, remember! Stragglers to rejoin at Chianciano.' "For a few minutes all was bustle and preparation. "'Here I am,' cried Rina, running in, attired in her Roman peasant's dress. "'_Usseri, Usseri_!' said the innkeeper. "'Off with you!' cried the captain, and every one hurried towards the stairs. "'The devil!' said the captain, turning to me, 'you are forgetting your bass, I think.' "I took the bass. I would willingly have crept into it. Two horses stood ready saddled at the house door. "'Well, Monsieur le Musicien,' said Rina, 'do you not help me to get on my horse? You are not very gallant.' "I held out my arm to assist her, and as I did so she put a small piece of paper into my hand. "A cold perspiration stood upon my forehead. What could this paper be? Was it a billet-doux? Had I been so unfortunate as to make a conquest, which would render me the rival of the captain? My first impulse was to throw the note away; but on second thoughts I put it in my pocket. "'_Usseri, Usseri_!' cried the innkeeper again, and a noise like that of a distant galloping was heard. I scrambled on my horse, which two of the robbers took by the bridle; two others led that of Mademoiselle Rina. The captain, with his carbine on his shoulder, ran beside his mistress, the lieutenant accompanied me, and the remainder of the band, consisting of fifteen or eighteen men, brought up the rear. Five or six shots were fired some three hundred yards behind us, and the balls whistled in our ears. 'To the left!' cried the captain, and we threw ourselves into a sort of ravine, at the bottom of which ran a rapid stream. Here we halted and listened, and heard the hussars gallop furiously past on the high-road. "'If they keep on at that pace, they'll soon be at Grossetto,' said the captain laughing."