"Then there is hope for you _yet_, brave Englishman!" cried the officer; and without uttering another word, he hastened back to the spot where the Captain-General of Abrantani was standing. Were we to say that Richard was now otherwise than a prey to the most profound suspense, we should be exaggerating the moral strength of human nature. We have no wish to make of our hero a demigod: we allow him to be nothing more than mortal after all! It _was_, therefore, with no little anxiety that Markham saw the officer approach the Captain-General of Abrantani, and discourse with him for some moments in a low tone. The _aide-de-camp_ appeared to urge some point which he was anxious to carry: Count Santa-Croce shook his head ominously. "Beloved Isabella," murmured Richard to himself: "shall I never see thee more?" His eyes were still fixed upon those two men who appeared to be arguing his life or death. At length the Captain-General took a paper from the breast of his profusely-laced blue uniform coat, and cast his eyes over it. Richard watched him with breathless anxiety. This state of suspense did not last long. Count Santa-Croce folded the paper, replaced it where he had taken it from, and then gave a brief command to the officer. The latter hurried back to the spot where Markham was hovering as it were between life and death. "You are saved, sir!" cried the Castelcicalan his countenance expressing the most unfeigned joy. "Generous friend!" exclaimed Richard: "by what strange influence have you worked this miracle?" "That must remain a secret," answered the _aide-de-camp_. "At the same time I can take but little merit to myself in the transaction—beyond a mere effort of memory. You have powerful friends, sir, in Castelcicala: otherwise his lordship the Captain-General," he added in a whisper, "was not the man to spare you." "To you I proffer my most heart-felt thanks, generous Italian!" cried Richard; "for to you I am clearly indebted for my life. Let me know the name of my saviour?" "Mario Bazzano—junior _aide-de-camp_ to Count Santa-Croce, the Captain-General of Abrantani," was the answer. "But we have no time to parley," he continued rapidly: "the good news which I have already imparted to you in respect to your life, must be somewhat counterbalanced by the commands which I have received regarding your liberty." "Speak, Signor Bazzano," said Markham. "You saw that I did not flinch from death: it is scarcely probable that I shall tremble at any less severe sentence which may have been passed upon me." "My orders are to conduct you to Montoni, where you will be placed at the disposal of a higher authority than even the Captain-General of Abrantani," returned the _aide-de-camp_. "But, in the first place, my lord's surgeon shall look to your wound." Then once more did the generous-hearted Castelcicalan hasten away; and in a few minutes he returned, accompanied by the Count's own medical attendant.