Mezzoni the Brigand — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

136 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. “Now let there be silence and promptness,”’ he said, as they neared their destination. While the police are preparing to play their pro- fessional part, we may look-within the Amadeo pal- ace for a moment, and see how the stranger who entered here was received. “Signora.”’ ‘‘Alberto!’’ responded the countess. **You received my message?’’ “Yes; you were expected.’’ ‘‘Do you remember that I told you, signora, I was a criminal?”’ a | do. ’’ ““And now despise me?’’ ‘“T love you the more since you require my aid,’’ she replied. ‘It was necessary that I should return for a few hours, and I knew no other asylum,’’ ‘It needs no apology; whatever the chance that brings you to me it is welcome.”’ ‘Ah, signora, your devotion deserves better return than I can accord.”’ She gave him her hand, which he pressed to his lips, while at the same moment she exclaimed, step- ping one side anxiously: ‘Hark !”’ | “Ay, some one is on the stairs,’’ he said quickly, and feeling for his weapons. ‘‘Here, hide in my chamber.”’ ‘‘Is there nowhere else?’’ he asked, hesitating in that critical moment to compromise her. ‘“‘Quick—quick,’’ she said, thrusting him within the door, and closing it after him. It was none too soon. The next moment the door of the ante-room was Eomicbooks: at mesos