Marcello threw another log upon the fire, and
they waited. Kalmon smoked thoughtfully, but Marcello leaned back in his
chair, covering his eyes with one hand. The pain had not begun to be
dulled yet, and he could only sit still and bear it.

At last the door opened, and a servant said that Ercole was waiting, and
had been ordered to come, no matter how late it was. A moment later he
appeared, and for once without his dog.

He stood before the door as it closed behind him waiting to be told to
come forward. Marcello spoke kindly to him.

"Come here," he said. "It is a long time since we saw each other, and
now we are in a hurry."

Ercole's heavy boots rang on the polished floor as he obeyed and came up
to the table. He looked gloomily and suspiciously at both men.

"Well?" said Kalmon, encouraging him to speak.

"He is still in Rome," Ercole answered. "How do I know it? I began to
ask the porters and the under station-masters who wear red caps, and the
woman who sells newspapers and cigars at the stand, and the man who
clips the tickets at the doors of the waiting-rooms. 'Did you see a
gentleman, so and so, with a servant, so and so, and much luggage, going
away by the train? For I am his keeper from the Roman shore, and he told
me to be here when he went away, to give him a certain answer.' So I
said, going from one to another, and weeping to show that it was a very
urgent matter. And many shook their heads and laughed at me. But at last
a porter heard, and asked if the gentleman were so and so. And I said
yes, that he was so and so, and his servant was so and so, and that the
gentleman was a rich gentleman. And the porter said, 'See what a
combination! That is the gentleman who had all his luggage brought in
this afternoon, to be weighed; but it was not weighed, for he came back
after a quarter of an hour, and took some small things and had them put
upon a cab, but the other boxes were left in deposit.' Then I took out
four sous and showed them to the porter, and he led me to a certain
hall, and showed me the luggage, which is that of the man we seek, and
it is marked 'F.C.' So when I had seen, I made a show of being joyful,
and gave the porter five sous instead of four. And he was very
contented. This is the truth. So I say, he is still in Rome."

"I told you so," said Kalmon, looking at Marcello.

"Excuse me, but what did you tell the young gentleman?" asked Ercole
suspiciously.

"That you would surely fin