A carriage came early for Sister Giovanna that evening, and the footman sent in a message by the portress.

The patient was worse, he said, and the doctor hoped that the nurse would come as soon as she conveniently could.

She came down in less than five minutes, in her wide black cloak, carrying her little black bag in her hand.

It was raining heavily and she drew the hood up over her head before she left the threshold, though the servant was holding up a large umbrella.
The portress had asked the usual questions of him as soon as he presented himself, but Sister Giovanna repeated them.

Was the carriage from the Villino Barini?
It was.