Death stretched out a hand in the darkness and found the hand of Birth.
CHAPTER XVII
ON a warm but overcast day, at the end of the following September, a
woman, whose face was completely hidden by a thick black veil, drove up
to the boat landing of the town of Como in a hired victoria. She was
alone, but behind her followed a second carriage containing an Italian
maid and a large quantity of luggage. When the victoria stopped at the
water's edge the woman got out slowly, and stood for a moment, apparently
looking for something. There were many boats ranged along the quay, their
white awnings thrown back, their oars resting on the painted seats.
Beside one, which was larger than the others, soberly decorated in brown
with touches of gold, and furnished with broad seats not unlike small
armchairs, stood two bold-looking Italian lads dressed in white sailors'
suits. One of them, after staring for a brief instant at the veiled
woman, went up to her and said in Italian:
"Is the signora for Casa Felice?"
"Yes."
The boy took off his round hat with a gallant gesture.
"The boat is here, signora."
He led the way to the brown-and-gold craft, and helped the lady to get
into it. She sat down on one of the big seats.
"That is the luggage," she said, speaking Italian in a low voice, and
pointing to the second carriage from which the maid was stepping. The two
boatmen hastened towards it.
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