soldier who had crossed the bridge of Sant' Angelo half an hour
earlier. His uniform was all stained with mud, there was blood
upon his pale face, and his limbs hung down, powerless and limp.
But as the young girl looked at him, consciousness returned, and
with it came the sense of acute suffering. He opened his eyes
suddenly, as men often do when they revive after being stunned,
and a short groan escaped from his lips. Then, as he realised that
he was in the presence of a lady, he made an effort as though to
release himself from the hands of those who carried him, and to
stand upon his feet.

"Pardon me, Madame," he began to say, but Faustina checked him by
a gesture.

Meanwhile old Montevarchi had carefully scrutinised the young
man's face, and had recognised him, for they had often met in
society.

"Monsieur Gouache!" he exclaimed in surprise. At the same time he
made the men move on with their burden.

"You know him, papa?" whispered Donna Faustina as they followed
together. "He is a gentleman? I was right?"

"Of course, of course," answered her father. "But really,
Faustina, had you nothing better to do than to go and look into
his face? Imagine, if he had known you! Dear me! If you begin like
this, as soon as you are out of the convent--"

Montevarchi left the rest of the sentence to his daughter's