Dane, uneasy lest he had stayed too long on the terrace, proposed going downstairs.

The ladies had certainly availed themselves of the carriage which was coming for him.
Don Clemente also seemed very uneasy.

Hiding his own agitation, Selva hastily took his arm.
"If you do not care to meet these ladies," he said, "come with me at once, and I will let you out through the Casino, by the upper path." The Padre seemed greatly relieved, and the two started off in haste, the Benedictine even forgetting to say good-night.
"It is late, too" said he.

"When I asked the Father Abbot's permission, I said I should be back at half-past nine." They ran down the widening stairway, but when they reached the little open space where the acacias stood, Jeanne Dessalle, Maria, and Noemi were just entering it from the opposite direction.
It was not too dark under the acacias for Maria to recognise her husband and Don Clemente in the two figures coming from the house.

Being in advance of her sister with Jeanne, she promptly turned to the right, making her companion turn with her, and directed her steps towards the little Casino, an addition to the villa, and standing with its back to the larger house.