They passed it, however, unchallenged, and after half-an-hour's further
walking, the Brazilian halted at last before a garden wall, in which
there was a small wicket gate. He looked cautiously round him and said
excitedly--

"We must climb over here, and then--we are safe."

He climbed up on Salvé's back, and so on to the top of the wall; drew
Salvé up beside him, and then sprang down into the little garden and
began to roll about on the grass as if he had taken leave of his senses,
crying, "Salvado! Salvado!"

He rushed up then to the little villa that lay half overshadowed by
trees, and knocking in a particular manner at the door, called out
"Paolina! Paolina!"

A female in night-dress, with a young, but rather deep voice, opened the
shutter from within, and put out her head.

"Federigo!"--she said, tremblingly; and there followed then a rapid
interchange of questions and answers in Spanish which Salvé did not
understand. He gathered merely that she was surprised to see a stranger
with him, and that he calmed her apprehensions with the word "amigo,"
followed by a short explanation.

She opened the door, and fell impulsively on Federigo's neck, kissing
him on both cheeks, and sobbing. After the custom of the place, then,
she offered her cheek to Salvé, and was a little surprised when he
seemed not to understand her meaning, and nodded merely, as he said,
half in English, half in Spanish, "good evening, señorita." It seemed to