第160章

"I am now quite at your service, gentlemen," said he."The carriage is going one way to the Piazza del Popolo, and we will go another; and, if you please, by the Corso.Take some more of these cigars, M.de Morcerf.""With all my heart," returned Albert; "Italian cigars are horrible.When you come to Paris, I will return all this.""I will not refuse; I intend going there soon, and since you allow me, I will pay you a visit.Come, we have not any time to lose, it is half-past twelve -- let us set off." All three descended; the coachman received his master's orders, and drove down the Via del Babuino.While the three gentlemen walked along the Piazza de Spagni and the Via Frattina, which led directly between the Fiano and Rospoli palaces, Franz's attention was directed towards the windows of that last palace, for he had not forgotten the signal agreed upon between the man in the mantle and the Transtevere peasant."Which are your windows?" asked he of the count, with as much indifference as he could assume.

"The three last," returned he, with a negligence evidently unaffected, for he could not imagine with what intention the question was put.Franz glanced rapidly towards the three windows.The side windows were hung with yellow damask, and the centre one with white damask and a red cross.The man in the mantle had kept his promise to the Transteverin, and there could now be no doubt that he was the count.The three windows were still untenanted.Preparations were making on every side; chairs were placed, scaffolds were raised, and windows were hung with flags.The masks could not appear;the carriages could not move about; but the masks were visible behind the windows, the carriages, and the doors.

Franz, Albert, and the count continued to descend the Corso.