A whirling human shape, diminishing downward
in the moon's rays farther and farther toward invisibility, a smack-
smack upon the projecting ledges of rock--at first louder and
heavier than that of the brook, and then scarcely to be
distinguished from it--then a cessation, then the splashing of the
stream as before, and the accompanying murmur of the sea, were all
the incidents that disturbed the customary flow of the little
waterfall.
The singer waited in a fixed attitude for a few minutes, then
turning, he rapidly retraced his steps over the intervening upland
toward the road, and in less than a quarter of an hour was at the
door of the hotel. Slipping quietly in as the clock struck ten, he
said to the landlord, over the bar hatchway -
'The bill as soon as you can let me have it, including charges for
the supper that was ordered, though we cannot stay to eat it, I am
sorry to say.' He added with forced gaiety, 'The lady's father and
cousin have thought better of intercepting the marriage, and after
quarrelling with each other have gone home independently.'
'Well done, sir!' said the landlord, who still sided with this
customer in preference to those who had given trouble and barely
paid for baiting the horses. '"Love will find out the way!" as the
saying is. Wish you joy, sir!'
Signor Smithozzi went upstairs, and on entering the sitting-room
found that Laura had crept out from the dark adjoining chamber in
his absence.
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