No one answered. Above the deep rumbling of the Anio, voices and steps could be heard approaching the villa from the gate. Minucci, who was standing at the eastern end of the terrace, looked down, and said:
"Ladies. Two ladies."
Maria gasped. "Two ladies?" she exclaimed. Hastening to the parapet she perceived two white figures ascending slowly; they were at the first turning of the steep little path. It was impossible to recognise the figures, they were still too far away, and it was too dark. Giovanni observed that they were probably people coming to the first floor to see the proprietors of the house. Professor Dane smiled mysteriously.
"They may be coming to the second floor," said he.
Maria exclaimed:
"You know something about this!" and called down:
"Noemi, est-ce vous?"
Noemi's clear voice answered:
"Oui, c'est nous!"
Another female voice was heard saying aloud to her:
"What a child! You should have kept quiet!"
Maria gave a little cry of joy and disappeared, running down the winding stairway.
"You knew, Professor Dane?" Selva asked. Yes, Dane knew. He had made Signora Dessalle's acquaintance at her villa in the Veneto—the villa
