Agostino waved his hand in the form of a salute to her on the last short ascent. She acknowledged it gracefully; and talking at intervals to Carlo Ammiani, who footed briskly by her side, she drew by degrees among the eyes fixed on her, some of which were not gentle; but hers were for the Chief, at whose feet, when dismounted by Ammiani's solicitous aid, she would have knelt, had he not seized her by her elbows, and put his lips to her cheek.
"The signorina Vittoria, gentlemen," said Agostino.
CHAPTER III
The old man had introduced her with much of the pride of a father displaying some noble child of his for the first time to admiring friends.