"How are the horses doing, Giovanni ?" she asked of the coachman.

"Are they strong enough for the work ?" "They are good horses, Excellency," the man answered.

"They need work." "And how is Sultana ?" inquired the young girl, who had not seen the mare for several days.
"The mare is well, Excellency." Veronica made Don Teodoro sit beside her, and Elettra installed herself opposite them, with her mistress's bags and other things.

The luggage was piled on a cart which was to follow, and they drove away.
"I sent the carriage down yesterday," observed Don Teodoro.

"I came by the coach this morning." "Is it so far ?" asked Veronica, whose ideas about the position of her property were still uncertain, for it had never struck Elettra that her mistress did not know how far it was from Eboli to Muro.
"It is over thirty miles," answered the priest, with a smile.