Very slowly a few stragglers came in sight, then more, and then by
degrees a great dark crowd of awestruck people were collected
together and stood afar off, fearing to come near, lest the ruins
should still continue falling. Presently the door of the hospital
opened and a party of men in gray blouses, headed by three or four
gentlemen in black coats--one indeed was in his shirt sleeves--
emerged into the silent street and went straight towards the scene
of the disaster. They carried lanterns and a couple of stretchers
such as are used for bearing the wounded. It chanced that the
straight line they followed from the door did not lead them to
where the girl was lying, and it was not until after a long and
nearly fruitless search that they turned back. Two soldiers only,
and both dead, could they find to bring back. The rest were buried
far beneath, and it would be the work of many hours to extricate
the bodies, even with a large force of men.
As the little procession turned sadly back, they found that the
crowd had advanced cautiously forward and now filled the street.
In the foremost rank a little circle stood about a dark object
that lay on the ground, curious, but too timid to touch it.
"Signor Professore," said one man in a low voice, "there is a dead
woman.
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