Apparently she had rung so loud in her excitement as to rouse the suspicions of old Assunta, who cautiously peered through the little square that opened behind a grating in the door, before she raised the latch.

On seeing Lucia she began to laugh, and opened quickly.
"So loud!" chuckled the old thing.

"I thought it was the police or Sor Marzio in a rage." Lucia did not heed her, but ran quickly on to the sitting-room, where the Signora Pandolfi was alone, seated on her straight chair and holding her bonnet in her hand, the bonnet with the purple glass grapes; she was the picture of despair.

Lucia made haste to comfort her.
"Do not cry, mamma," she said quickly.

"I have arranged it all.