, walked
up and down the floor of his little room, until the landlord re-appeared
and announced the carriage.

The duke caught up his rough traveling-cap, clapped it on his head,
hurried out and entered the rustic vehicle, dignified with the name
of a carriage.

And in another moment he was rolling off in the direction of the
Vine-dresser's cottage at the foot of the mountain.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE RIVALS.

The sun was setting behind the western ridge, and throwing a deep shadow
over the valley, as the rustic vehicle conveying the Duke of Hereward
drew up before the vinedresser's cottage, nestled almost out of sight
amid thick foliage and deep shade.

It was the hour of rest, and Beppo, the vine-dresser, sat at the gate,
strumming an old, dilapidated lute; his red jacket and white shirt making
the only bits of bright color in the sombre picture.

As the rude carriage stopped before the gate, Beppo arose and put aside
his lute, and stood with a look of expectancy on his dark face.

The duke did not alight, but put his head out of the carriage window and
beckoned the man to approach him.

Beppo came up, curiosity expressing itself in every feature of his
speaking countenance.

"You have a young gentleman and lady--a young married couple--staying
with you?" said the duke, but speaking in the Italian language.

"No, Excellenzo. The signora is here. The signor went away on the same
day on which he brought the signora," deferentially answered the peasant,
with a profound bow.

"The man has gone!" exclaimed the duke, losing his caution and his
politeness in the phrenzy of baffled vengeance.

"Si, signer, the man has gone!" with another deep bow.

"Where, then, has he gone?"

"To Paris, signor; but the signora is still here. Will the signor deign
to come into my poor house and see the signora, then?"

"See _her_! No!" vehemently exclaimed the duke. Then recollecting
himself, he inquired:

"Are you sure the man has gone to Paris?"

"Si, signor; I drove him myself, in my little cart, to San Stephano,
where he took the train."

"You say that he left on the same day in which he brought the lady here?"
inquired the duke, with more interest.

"Si, signor. They arrived in the afternoon, and he went away again in the
evening."

"Hum. Why did he go so soon?"

"Affairs, signor. It is not to be thought he would have left the signora
so sick if it had not been for affairs."

"The lady is sick, then?"