rs more in detail, and asked if they were sure there was
nobody concealed in the place Faustina indicated. Malfi answered that he
did not alight, but he looked over the wall and saw nobody. During the
course of this conversation they had turned their horses' heads, and
were riding back towards the church, Malfi talking about Ripa's affair,
remarking on the impropriety of deferring his execution so long; Mendez
more than usually silent and serious, and the servant riding beside
them, when, as they approached the spot, they saw coming towards them on
foot a man, whom they all three recognized as Antonio Guerra, the
Spaniard's late servant. As this person was supposed to have gone to
another part of the country after quitting Gaspar's service, Malfi
expressed some surprise at seeing him; whilst Mendez turned very pale,
making at the same time some exclamation that attracted the attention of
his brother-in-law, who, however, drew up his horse to ask Guerra what
had brought him back, and if he was out of a situation, adding that a
neighbor of his, whom he named, was in want of a servant. Guerra, who
looked poorly dressed, and by no means in such good case as formerly,
answered that he should be very glad if Malfi would recommend him.

"You had better turn about, then, and come on with us," said Malfi, as
he rode forward. During this conversation Mendez had sat by saying
nothing; and if he was grave and silent before, he was still more so
now, insomuch that his behavior drew the attention of his
brother-in-law, who asked him if there was any thing wrong with him.

"Surely it's not Faustina's dream you are thinking of?" he said; adding,
"that the meeting with Guerra had put it out of his head, or he would
have examined the place more narrowly."

Mendez entered into no explanation; and as the servant, who was
acquainted with Guerra, took him up behind him, they all arrived at
their journey's end nearly together; Mendez, instead of proceeding
homewards, turning off with the others to Malfi's house, where the first
thing he did after his arrival was to visit his sister, whom he found
better; whilst she, on the contrary, was struck with the pallor of his
features and the agitation of his manner--a disorder which, like her
husband, she attributed to the shock of her dream, acting upon a mind
prepared by the affair of the preceding year to take alarm. In order to
remove the impression, she laughed at the fright she had been in; but