To all seeming they did,
for he pushed through the garden without mishap, and came to the house.
It was a four-square, two-storied building, with something of the air
of a fortress, a useful abode in those once brigand-ridden hills, some
old-time gentleman's country-seat; a mat of creepers covered it to its
tiled roof. The side near him was dark; and from the back came the
voices of three stablemen about their business. He stole round to the
front; and that too was dark. But on the further side two rooms were
lighted, one on the ground floor, one above.
A chatter of excited voices came from the lower windows; and Tinker
came to within ten yards of it, and looked in through the heavy bars.
Three men were dining at the table: a freckled redheaded man with the
high cheekbones of the Scot, a dissipated young Italian of a most
romantic air, and a small, round, vivacious man, ineffably French.
"I'm going to marry the girl, say what you will!" the Italian cried.
"Where would your scheme have been without my aid? Where would you
have found a house like this, out of the world, secure from search, in
a country where everyone is as silent as the grave in my interests?"
"Pardon, my dear Monteleone," said the Frenchman; "_I_ am going to
marry the lady.
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