ellow makes one think of reincarnation, and spirit
wanderings, and magic--in fact, anything that is mysterious. The German
told me he had a conversation with him."

"In what language?"

"In German. It seems that he speaks all the languages. The Frenchman
told me he spoke French like a Parisian, while the German says his
knowledge of German literature is profound. He talks to the waiters in
English, and reads the newspapers of several countries. When I saw him
he was writing in Arabic."

"Do you know Arabic?"

"No; but from what I could judge from the distance, he was writing in
Arabic characters. But it might have been in Chinese, or any other
language; I don't know."

"Do you know his name?"

"Yes; the fellow so interested me that I inquired."

"What was it?"

"Signor Ricordo."

"Ricordo? That sounds Italian."

"He may be Italian. I suppose lots of Italians go across to Tunis from
Genoa. He might be anything, in fact--Russian, Spaniard, Italian, or
Arab."

"I suppose he is a gentleman?"

"As I told you, I never spoke to him; but the German told me that there
could be no doubt but that he was a man of considerable position. He
thinks him a count, or something of that sort; but, as I told him,
Italian counts are cheap. Be that as it may, he speaks of himself as a
simple 'Signore,' and makes no parade of his greatness whatever."

"That may be because he has none."

"But I should gather that he has. This German is a man who knows things,
and he tells me that there can be no doubt but that Signor Ricordo has
moved in the most influential circles. Oh, I can assure you there is no
difficulty in believing it. You cannot look at his face without feeling
that he is a man who has lived at the heart of things."

"You make me quite curious. I must visit the home, and make his
acquaintance."

"It will be very interesting to know what you think of him."

"Of course he is not rich? He would not go to The Homestead if he were."

"The question did not come up. The truth is, he is not the kind of man
who suggests such things. You are impressed by the personality of the
man, not by his belongings."

"I wonder you did not try and make his acquaintance."

"I wanted to badly; but, as I said, he seemed to be in an unsociable
mood."

"I daresay you will speak to him some time."

"Oh, yes. I am going in there to-night to dine with my German
acquaintance."

Olive raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, yes, I know of what yo