They heard a confused clamour but it soon died away.
The spectators held their breath in suspense.

From time to time, somebody would remark aloud on the various incidents of the running.

At every change in the order of the horses numerous exclamations sounded through the continuous murmur, and the ladies thrilled visibly.

Donna Ippolita Albonico, mounted on a seat, with her hands on the shoulders of her husband who stood below her, watched the race with marvellous self-control and without a trace of apparent emotion, unless the over-tight compression of her lips and a scarcely perceptible furrow between her brows might have revealed the effort to an observant eye.

At a certain moment, however, she drew her hands away from her husband's shoulder, fearful of betraying herself by some involuntary movement.
'Sperelli is down!' announced the Contessa di Lucoli in a loud voice.
Mallecho, in jumping, had slipped on the wet grass and come down on his knees, but recovered himself in an instant.