ing half as cool as yourself, Cutty. And now let's change the
subject, for it's one I'll not stand any chaff about."

"Am I safe in recommending you that grilled chicken, or is it
indiscreet in me to say you 'll find those sardines good?"

Jack helped himself, and ate on without a word. At last he lifted his
head, and, looking around him, said, "You 've very nice quarters here,
Cutbill."

"As neat as paint. I was thinking this morning whether I 'd not ask
your brother to rent me this little place. I feel quite romantic since
I 've come up here, with the nightingales, and the cicalas, and the rest
of them."

"If there were only a few more rooms like this, I 'd dispute the
tenancy with you."

"There 's a sea-view for you!" said he, throwing wide the jalousies.
"The whole Bocca di Cattaro and the islands in the distance. Naples is
nothing to it! And when you have feasted your eye with worldly beauty,
and want a touch of celestial beatitude, you've only to do this." And
he arose, and walking over to one side of the room, drew back a small
curtain of green silk, disclosing behind it an ornamental screen or
"grille" of iron-work.

"What does that mean?" asked Jack.

"That means that the occupant of this room, when devoutly disposed,
could be able to hear mass without the trouble of going for it. This
little grating here looks into the chapel; and there are evidences about
that members of the family who lived at the villa were accustomed to
come up here at times to pass days of solitude, and perhaps penance,
which, after all, judging from the indulgent character of this little
provision here, were probably not over severe."

"Nelly has told me of this chapel. Can we see it?"

"No; it's locked and barred like a jail. I 've tried to peep in through
this grating; but it's too dark to see anything."

"But this grating is on a hinge," said Jack. "Don't you see, it was
meant to open, though it appears not to have done so for some years
back? Here 's the secret of it." And pressing a small knob in the wall,
the framework became at once movable, and opened like a window.

"I hope it's not sacrilege, but I mean to go in," said Jack, who,
mounting on a chair, with a sailor's agility insinuated himself through
the aperture, and invited Cutbill to follow.

"No, no; I wasn't brought up a rope-dancer," said he, gruffly. "If you
can't manage to open the door for me--"

"But it's what I can. I can push back every bolt. Come ro