When Mrs. Harkaway's maid returned to the villa, she got scolded for being so long upon an errand of some importance with which she had been entrusted. Thereupon, she was prepared with twenty excuses, all of which were any thing but the truth. The words of warning which the brigand had called after her had not been without their due effect. ."She had been detained," she said, "by the Contessa Maraviglia for the letter which she brought back to Mr. Mole." The letter was an invitation to a grand ball which was to be given by the contessa at the.
