"No sign of Lennox yet?" said the Marquis, entering the verandah. "'Pon my word they are taking it easily." "Indeed, I am beginning to feel nervous,--the roads are so unsafe. I wish they had started earlier," said the Countess. "Pooh! you are always thinking of the brigands. I tell you Lennox wrote to say he would take guards." "I know; but that Luigi is such a dreadful man! I quite dread going drives. And if he heard of my jewels coming,--he gets news of everything. I do hope nothing will happen." "Never a fear. Young Lennox is a smart fellow. They will come all right. They are armed, and the sbirri with them. Luigi knows too well to risk an attack." "I hear the clatter of a horse, mamma," said Augusta. "Ah! see, here he comes. How he rides; and he is stopping at our gate." "Oh! I hope there is nothing wrong. Do go and see, Arranmore. How my heart beats!" Lord Arranmore, without waiting to be asked, had left the balcony, and at the porch learned the dreadful tidings from the postilion, who, almost dead with terror, crossing himself and calling every saint to his aid, by broken sentences told all, producing also the ensanguined scarf. The Marquis ordered the servants to give him refreshment (but the poor man had little peace till he had told them the whole twenty times over, and each time a little more exaggerated than the last), and then returned to break the news to the Countess. "Your fears are, alas! too true," he said. "Our friends have been attacked and fearfully murdered!" "Merciful heavens!" exclaimed the Countess; "is this true?" "Too true. The wretched postilion, who alone survived, told me all. Poor young Lennox attacked them boldly, but was soon overpowered; then poor Lennox! Faith! the tale is too shocking for your ears. Enough to say, he was murdered, and the heads of father and son stuck on poles! The worst part is, all your jewels are gone too!" "Oh! Arranmore! do not say so! I would gladly have lost every trinket in the world to save one life. But, Caroline, poor girl, what has become of her?" said the Countess, whilst unfeigned tears of sorrow coursed her cheeks. "Ah! poor girl! she was carried off by the ruffian Adrian Vardarelli. Luigi is a bloodthirsty villain! but Adrian a--I won't say my fears!" "Oh! my poor Caroline! my heart bleeds for her indeed! But had they not guards? How did it happen?"