the Duke of Hereward was not
intuitively recognized as a person of distinction, and therefore escaped
the overwhelming amount of attention usually lavished upon English
tourists of rank and wealth by continental hosts.

He was shown to a little room blinded by clustering vines, and there left
to his own devices.

He ordered a bottle of the native wine, and sent for the landlord.

The latter came promptly--a thin, little, old man, with a skin like
parchment, hair and beard like a black horse's mane, and eyes like
glowworms.

He saluted the shabby stranger with courtesy, but without obsequiousness;
for how should he know that the traveler was a duke?

"Pray sit down. I wish to ask you some questions," said the Duke of
Hereward, with a natural, courteous dignity that immediately modified the
landlord's estimate of his value.

"Non, signor; but I will answer questions," he declared, as he bowed
deferentially, and remained standing.

"Did a gentleman and lady arrive here about ten days ago!"

"Si, signor--a grand milord, and a beautiful miladi. But they have been
here before, signor, about two years ago."

"Ah! Where are they now?"

"At their old lodgings, signor--at the cottage of Beppo, the
vine-dresser. The signor is a good friend of the young milord and
miladi?" questioned the landlord, deferentially, but very anxiously; for
just then it flashed upon his memory that two years previous another
grand "signor," of reverend age like this one, had come inquiring about
the young pair, and had ended in breaking up their union for the time.

"I have known the lady for about a year, or a little longer; the
gentleman only a few months; but I can scarcely lay claim to so an
intimate a relation to them as 'friendship' would imply," answered the
duke, evasively, and putting a severe constraint upon himself.

The landlord was completely deceived and thrown off his guard.

"How far from the village does this vine-dresser live?" inquired the
duke.

"Just on the outside, signor--just at the foot of the mountain--about
three miles from this house."

"Can I have a carriage to take me there this evening."

"Si, signor, assuredly; but will not the signor refresh himself before he
leaves?" inquired the host.

"No; I will refresh myself after I come back. Let me have the carriage as
soon as possible."

"Si, signor," said the landlord, bowing himself out.

The duke, unable to rest, even after a long and fatiguing journey