"Dear Emma--though, I am sure, there is something like a feud between them, and it was in her power, as mistress of the house, to increase the discomfort of the situation--went to meet her with a winning smile of hospitality, and frank eyes that asked no question. The Princess, standing back, looked at her searchingly, then suffered her haughtiness to be disarmed; but she was ill at ease, and sat wild-eyed, like a captive who has been assured of good treatment, but deprived of his weapons, while Emma was outspoken in her generous admiration of the Princess's heroic deed." * * * * * Will drew his sword as soon as the door of the Ambassador's palace closed on him, and sped down the hill towards the sea. He made sure that he should have to use it ere he passed the end of the Thuilleries--the fine garden or park which the King had had planted between Pizzofalcone and Mergellina. But no one leapt on him out of the darkness. As he came to the low dwellings at the foot of the rock near the sea, he felt to see that his pistols were loose. More than once he was sure he heard whispers, and the shuffling of feet bound round with rags. Sometimes his left hand clenched the pistol-butt, as he fancied he saw figures rise up before him--though they always melted into the gloom. But, though his brave heart was thumping, he saw no one for sure, till he came to the lamps at the landing, and our own sentry. And yet, as we afterwards learned, his presentiments were correct. His whole path had been swarming with unseen sentries and patrols of the _lazzaroni_, with whom our Service stood in the highest popularity at the moment. Their hearing, and indeed most of their senses, are preternaturally sharpened; and, though it was pitch dark, they knew that an English officer was passing through them--an Englishman by the firmness of his footsteps, and an officer, not a sailor, by the lighter tread. Had any one assailed him, he would have had scores of helpers. What a world of anxiety mankind might be spared, if it knew! You may judge my feelings of disappointment when I learned the next day of the services upon which Will had been engaged. I had heard that he was retained by the Admiral, and after the dinner returned to the ship to report myself. He was going to the Admiral for orders, at the hour directed, when he came upon him with Donna Rusidda, the extraordinary nature of whose visit had made the Admiral's appointment to Will slip his memory. He could not, within a day or two, time the arrival of General Championnet and the French army at his first signalling point; and besides the secretary, Mr. Campbell, whom he used little for this special correspondence, he needed one of his officers.