Selva, on his part, seeing his wife's movement, promptly whispered to the Padre: "Go down the straight path at once." But it was all to no purpose.
All to no purpose, because Noemi, astonished at seeing her sister turn to the right, stopped short, exclaiming: "Where are you going ?" and Don Clemente, having perhaps noticed a lady standing in his way, instead of passing her and going down, went to summon the gardener, who was waiting for him in the darkest corner of the little opening, where the side of the house meets the hill.

He called "Benedetto!" and then turning to Selva said: "Would you like to show him the little field ?" "At this hour ?" Giovanni answered, while his wife whispered to Noemi: "Some visitors are just leaving, let us stay here at the Casino until they have passed," shaking her head at her so emphatically the while, that Signora Dessalle noticed the action, and at once suspected some mystery.
"Why ?" she said.

"Are they dangerous ?" and slackened her pace.

Noemi, on the other hand, having understood her sister's wish, but not her secret motive, was over-zealous in seconding her; and clasping her two companions round the waist, she pushed them towards the Casino.

Jeanne Dessalle was instinctively moved to rebel, and turning upon her, exclaimed: "What are you doing ?" Then she saw Selva coming towards them.
He hastened to greet them, spreading out his arms as if to hide Don Clemente, who, followed by the gardener, passed rapidly within five paces of Jeanne, and descended the steep path.
Noemi, who had also turned at her brother-in-law's greeting, ran to embrace him; Selva in the meantime, feeling gratified that Don Clemente had avoided a meeting.