The Net

t sea, rose the fairy-like Lipari Islands, and in the farthest distance Stromboli lifted its smoking cone above the horizon. On the landward side of the train, as it reeled

in Blake, as the hours dragged along, should remark less and less upon the beauties of the island and more and more upon the medieval condition of the rickety railroad coach in which he was shaken and buffeted about. He shifted himself to an easier position upon the seat and lighted a cheroot; for although this was his first glimpse of Sicily, he had watched the same

an earnest desire for closer acquaintance and now plied him eagerly with questions, han

. Many wonderful adventures befell you, perhaps. Eh?" The priest's little eyes gleamed from his full cheeks, and he edged forw

s all, and the beggars at Na

You will tell

. These European trains

lack of response, the question

young Conte?" he suggested. "And yet th

rica

dee

ds, however. We met in Paris.

eat painter. It is very strange, but many of our rich people leav

untry is behind the times, and he prefers to be out in t

tement. He shook his head. "He was always a wild lad. Now as to the Signorina Ginini, who is

ike? Martel has spoken of her a great many times, but o

gether too beautiful. If I had my way all the beautiful women would be placed in a convent where no man could see them. Then there

says, and that is exactly the w

ery beautiful." He went off into a number of rapturous "issimas!" "No

for ten years, and he has on

or I must tell you that he attends to the leasing of the entire estate during the Conte's absence in France, or wherever it is he draws those marvelous pictures. Ricardo collects the rents." With

the young man. "Even

y. "My mother's cousin, Alfio Amato

afrai

teeth. Think! He is such a liar any one would remember him. Ebbene! He wrote that t

y one knows abo

ee! Then, perhaps, he will be more generous to his own people. He is a hard man in money matters, and a man of action also; he does not allow flies to sit upon his nose. He sent his own daughter Lucrezia to Terranova when the Contessa was still

tched his tired

't marry in France; this

sa's wish, then, t

ilians. He was determined also that I should be present to share his joy, and so here I am. Between yo

lermo, and a dozen other subjects upon which his active mind preyed. He was full of the gossip of the countryside, moreover, and Norvin learned much of interest about Sicily and the disposition of her people. One phenomenon to which the good man referred with the extremest wonder was Blake's

ame friends-what in my country we call chum

n, are also a

he indirect compli

o tell you all this shows that I have at least made progress with the languages, although I have doubts about the practical value of anything else I have learned. Martel has taught me Italian; I have taught h

se a business man. He deals in fruit. Beware of him, for he would sel

which I lease. I am, or I

ed women, most of whom carried bundles wrapped up in variegated handkerchiefs, and all of whom were tremendously excited at the prospect of travel. Lean-visaged, swarthy men peered forth from the folds of shawl

e growing black against a rose-pink and mother-of-pearl sky. The air was cool and fragran

forth striving by voice and gesture to

e cried, then blew fu

nd clank and finally crept on into the twilight, while the priest sa

stiano, to be greeted effusively by a young man of about his own age

ours eating my heart out, and every time I inquired of that head of a

e speed of the wind. The saints in heaven-even the superintendent of the railway himself-could not tell

ed to ask. You look disgustingly contented

teeth beneath his military mustache and cla

is not always late. Once, seven years ago, it arrived upon the moment. There were no passengers at the station

hence the contrast between the two men was marked, for Blake was of a more serious cast of features and possessed a decidedly Anglo-Saxon reserve. He was much the heavier in build, also, which detr

I don't know," the American declared. "It wa

!" The Count laughed. "Ah, but if

undernote which creeps into men's voices when friend meets friend.

is hat, and Blake took his hand, catching a glimpse of a grizzled face and a stiff mop of iron-gray hair. "You will see to Signore Blake's baggage, Ricardo. Michele! Ippolito!" th

l means. My muscl

he sea toward the Calabrian coast. As the riders clattered through the poorly lighted village, Blake saw the customary low-roofed houses, the usual squalid side-streets, more like steep lanes than thoroughfares, and heard the townspeople pronouncing the name of the Count of Martinello, while the ever-present horde of urchins fled from their path. A beggar appeared beside his stirrup, crying, "I die of hunger, your worship." But the fellow ran with surprising vigor and manifested a degree of endurance quite unexamp

for he had made close connections at Rome, at Naples, and at Palermo. Having the leisurely deliberateness of the American Southerner, he di

ng, telling of his many

o had held the horses

paused at length to bre

men carr

posse, Martel," said he. "Do all Sicilian

esitation. "The nights are

lized long before my country was even heard of. All sorts of ancient gods and heroes

ot join him, and a moment lat

, and in answer to Martel's shout a wide door was flung back; then by the light which streamed forth

"Let me see you once. Ah! I am glad you made this sacrifice for me, for I need you above all men." His

othing wro

sed his hea

onesomeness. Something was lacking, It was you, caro mio. Now, however, I am the most contented of mortals. But yo

around. So this is the cas

vigni. To the right, through an open door, he saw a large room where a fat Sicilian woman was laying the table; to the left was a drawing-room lighted only by a fire of fagots in a huge, black fireplace, the

n grand style, and, besides, I have spent practically no time here, since my father (may the saints recei

wing with romance. You must rule like a medieval baron. Why, you could sell this

home, it is my birthplace, so I love it-even though I neglect it. As you perceive, it is high time I took a wife. B

wide stairs and left hi

oom later that evening. They had dined and gossiped as only friends of their age can gossip, ha

. "You speak of marriage

so far as the other

I shall n

! Besides, I am re

y. You will come to Sicily. Perhaps the Contessa and I may even

imistic. "Perhaps

laughed

she will see you as I see you. More than th

cy, for good and all. She will instruct your cook to put a spider in my

anism of this speech, but Norvin me

lly love he

ve known we would marry. She adores me, sh

hat tone in speaking of her w

f she were a peasant girl. We shall be so happy-oh,

makes it quite certain

!" declared the Sicilia

othing to complete itself. It is a wall beyond which the owner does not care to wander, so, w

n have me unha

ll of regrets at losi

at you also must marry

can l

an impersonal sort of way, or perhaps I don't attract them. I m

may love with the suddenness of an e

t such things in a dignified and respectable manner.

a farm. But we have blood in our veins and lime in our bones. I have l

y the full width of the great room, Blake overheard no more than a word now and then. They were speaking in the Sicilian dialect, moreover, which was unfamiliar to

w rifle-Ippolito is a

vin fancied he detected once more that grave look he had surprise

icardo about rifles and

rd our oranges; there are thieves about.

n aught but wrinkles of merriment, and he recalled also that word "Mafioso." It conjured memories of certain tales he had heard of Sicilian outlawry and brigandage, and of that evil, shadowy society of "Friends" wh