“He went on rapidly explaining, lest we should be interrupted before he got through. He told me that all was arranged for our flight. That Anglesea would help us and keep our secret. “‘Madame!’ I whispered, as my quick ears heard a footstep on the hall outside. “‘Meet me on the pier—four o’clock this afternoon. Come without fail, if you care to save me from selfdestruction!’ he hastily whispered, as he arose and resumed his seat. “It was not madame who entered, however; it was Miss Murray. “She bowed stiffly to the Italian, and then glanced searchingly around the room. Seeing no one present but Saviola and myself—realizing that we were _tête-à-tête_—she frowned and sharply demanded: “‘Where is madame?’ “‘She has just left the room,’ I replied. “‘Very improper, very irregular, most reprehensible! I shall write to-day,’ she said, as she sat down bolt upright on the chair nearest us. “Miss Murray was a conscientious woman, and she did her duty; there was no doubt of that! but her words and her threatened action decided me. “Swift as lightning through my mind sped this question: What will be the effect of her letter to my father? Something that will separate me at once and forever from Saviola? I could not for a moment endure the thought. “I looked at my lover, and my look said plainly as tongue could speak: “‘I will meet you, and go with you to Italy.’ “And his eyes responded with equal clearness: “‘I understand you, and I thank and bless you.’ “Soon after he took a formal leave of me, and raised Miss Murray’s hand to his lips and kissed it with devotional tenderness as he bowed. “‘He is a very perfect gentleman, as indeed why should he not be? A man of his rank?’ said the half-appeased old maiden lady. ‘But all the same, my dear, he is young and unmarried, and a foreigner! And, what is worse still, he is a political refugee. Always suspicious characters, my dear! Always suspicious characters!’ “‘But Prince Saviola is well introduced, Miss Murray, and he is staying with the Middlemoors,’ I ventured to advance in my lover’s defense. “‘Very true, my dear! But that does not prevent him from being a foreigner and a political refugee,’ persisted Miss Murray, in her most absolute manner. “‘I cannot deny the fact,’ I admitted. “And then I went to my room and packed a small handbag with the merest necessaries for my journey. “We still kept schoolroom hours for meals and had our dinner at two o’clock. “Madame drank claret and Miss Murray stout at dinner; but both equally went to sleep in their easy chairs over the drawing-room fire, while I was supposed to be busy with my exercises until the five o’clock tea. “Now was my opportunity. “As soon as my governesses were both asleep in their chairs, I left the room, went up to my chamber, put on my outdoor dress, took my traveling bag and left the house. “Never was there before so perfectly easy and simple a flight.