The Last Lords of Gardonal | Page 6

her by the hand to bring her forward, and
they had nearly reached the window, when she heard a scream from her
mother, who being an incurable invalid was confined to her bed.
Without a moment's hesitation, the girl turned back to assist her, and
the men below, who thought that the prey they wanted was all but in
their hands, and cared little about the fate of the rest of the family, were
thus disappointed. Ludovico now anxiously awaited the reappearance
of Teresa--but he waited in vain. The flames had gained entire mastery,
and even the roof had taken fire. The screams of the inmates were now
no longer heard, for if not stifled in the smoke they were lost in the roar
of the fire; whilst the glare which arose from it illumined the landscape
far and near.
It so happened that a peasant, who resided about a quarter of a mile
from Biffi's house, had to go a long distance to his work, and having
risen at an unusually early hour, he saw the flames, and aroused the
inmates of the other cottages in the village, who immediately armed
themselves and started off to the scene of the disaster, imagining, but
too certainly, that it was the work of an incendiary. The alarm was also
communicated to another village, and from thence to Bormio, and in a
short time a strong band of armed men had collected, and proceeded
together to assist in extinguishing the flames. On their arrival at the
house, they found the place one immense heap of ashes--not a soul was
to be seen, for Ludovico and his men had already decamped.

The dawn now broke, and the assembled peasantry made some attempt
to account for the fire. At first they were induced to attribute it to
accident, but on searching around they found the dead body of the
murdered peasant, and afterwards the two children who had escaped,
and who in their terror had rushed into a thick copse to conceal
themselves. With great difficulty they gathered from them sufficient to
show that the fire had been caused by a band of robbers who had come
for the purpose of plundering the house; and their suspicion fell
immediately on Baron Conrad, without any better proof than his
infamous reputation.
As soon as Ludovico found that an alarm had been given, he and his
men started off to find their horses, which they had hidden among some
trees about a mile distant from Biffi's house. The daylight was just
breaking, and objects around them began to be visible, but not so
clearly as to allow them to see for any distance. Suddenly one of the
men pointed to an indistinct figure in white some little way in advance
of them. Ludovico halted for a moment to see what it might be, and,
with his men, watched it attentively as it appeared to fly from them.
"It is the young girl herself," said one of the men. "She has escaped
from the fire; and that was exactly as she appeared in her white dress
with her father at the window. I saw her well, and am sure I am not
mistaken."
"It is indeed the girl," said another. "I also saw her."
"I hope you are right," said Ludovico; "and if so, it will be fortunate
indeed, for should we return without her we may receive but a rude
reception from the baron."
They now quickened their pace, but, fast as they walked, the figure in
white walked quite as rapidly. Ludovico, who of course began to
suspect that it was Teresa attempting to escape from them, commanded
his men to run as fast as they could in order to reach her. Although they
tried their utmost, the figure, however, still kept the same distance
before them. Another singularity about it was, that as daylight
advanced the figure appeared to become less distinct, and ere they had

reached their horses it seemed to have melted away.


Part II
BEFORE mounting their horses, Ludovico held a consultation with his
men as to what course they had better adopt; whether they should
depart at once or search the neighbourhood for the girl. Both
suggestions seemed to be attended with danger. If they delayed their
departure, they might be attacked by the peasantry, who by this time
were doubtless in hot pursuit of them; and if they returned to the baron
without Teresa, they were almost certain to receive a severe
punishment for failing in their enterprise. At last the idea struck
Ludovico that a good round lie might possibly succeed with the baron
and do something to avert his anger, while there was little hope of its in
the slightest manner availing with the enraged peasantry. He