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ntly." They were, by this time, outside the grounds of the villa, and some of the servants, who knew the country, now took the lead. In a few minutes the merchant slackened his pace. "We are out of danger now," he said. "They will not know in which direction to search for us; and if they scatter in pursuit we could make very short work of any that might come up with us." "I do not know that you are out of danger," Francis said. "A hundred men landed. Mocenigo, with twenty, took the line to your house, but the rest have scattered over the country in smaller bands, bent on murder and pillage. Therefore, we had best keep on as fast as we can, until well beyond the circle they are likely to sweep--that is, unless the ladies are tired." "Tired!" Maria repeated. "Why, Giulia and I go for long walks every day, and could run for an hour, if necessary." "Then come on, my dears," the merchant said. "I am burning to know what this all means; and I am sure you are equally curious; but nothing can be said till you are in safety." Accordingly, the party again broke into a run. A few minutes later one of the servants, looking back, exclaimed: "They have fired the house, signor. There are flames issuing from one of the lower windows." "I expected that," the merchant said, without looking back. "That scoundrel would, in any case, light it in his fury at finding that we have escaped; but he has probably done so, now, in hopes that the light will enable him to discover us. It is well that we are so far ahead, for the blaze will light up the country for a long way round." "There is a wood a little way ahead, signor," the servant said. "Once through that we shall be hidden from sight, however great the light." Arrived at the wood, they again broke into a walk. A few hundred yards beyond the wood was some rising ground, from which they could see far over the country. "Let us stop here," the merchant said. "We are safe now. We have placed two miles between ourselves and those villains." The villa was now a mass of flames. Exclamations of fury broke from the men servants, while the women cried with anger at the sight of the destruction. "Do not concern yourselves," the merchant said. "The house can be rebuilt, and I will see that none of you are the poorer for the loss of your belongings. "Now, girls, let us sit down here and hear from Francisco how it is that he has once again been your saviour." "Before I b
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