"
"For my part, I confess a romanzo comes very specially recommended
to my ears from a lovely mouth!" said Ludovico; "and I fully expect
to find La Lalli quite up to the mark in this respect. I shall be
disappointed if she is not."
"From all I have heard, we shall none of us be disappointed!" said
Manutoli.
"We shall see in a few minutes!" returned Ludovico, looking at his
watch.
"There's something in the road now, I think, as far as I can see!"
said Manutoli, who had stood up in the carriage, holding the rail of
the driver's seat with one hand. The road stretched long and flat,
in a perfectly straight line before them for a great distance.
"Yes," continued he, "there is certainly something coming along the
road;--a carriage by the quickness with which it nears us: now for
it!"
"Tell him to draw up, Ludovico; and he might as well turn round so
as to be ready to drive back. We will wait here till she comes; and
our friends on horseback may as well remain here too," said the
Marchese.
So the little party drew up, and all eyes were turned to the small
cloud of dust rapidly approaching them.
"Yes: it is a carriage, and no mistake; and coming along at a good
pace too!" said Manutoli.
"It is she, no doubt; she was to sleep at Bagnacavallo," returned
Ludovico.
"Signori!" said the Marchese, addressing the four, or five mounted
officers, "will you kindly put your horses across the road, so that
the lady's driver may see that he is to stop, and that there may be
no mistake.
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