childhood, or had any real acquaintance with
her until now. When I know her better, it is pretty certain that I
shall love her all through; but one must confess I can never know
her very well, because the gap in age denies perfect understanding.
Nor does she come to me, as it were, alone. Her life turns to her
husband. She is still a bride and adores him."

"You have no reason to think her as an unhappy bride?"

"None whatever. Doria is amazingly handsome and attractive--the type
a woman generally worships. I grant that Italo-English marriages are
not remarkable for their success; but--well, no doubt Jenny's
husband is worldly-wise. He has everything to gain by being good,
everything to lose by behaving badly. Jenny is a proud girl. She has
qualities. There is a distinction about her. She would stand no
nonsense from Doria and she knows that I would stand no nonsense
from him. I hope to see much of her, though it appears that their
home will be in Turin."

"He has abandoned his ambitions to recover the family estates and
title and so forth? Brendon told me all about that."

"Entirely. Besides it seems that one of your countrymen has secured
the castle at Dolceacqua and bought the title too. Giuseppe was very
entertaining on the subject. But I'm afraid he loves idleness."

Before luncheon Mark Brendon returned from the hills with his guide.
They had seen nothing of Robert Redmayne and appeared to be rather
weary of one another's company.

"You must impart your wisdom and gay spirit to Signor Marco," said
Giuseppe to Mr. Ganns, when Brendon was out of earshot with Jenny.
"He is a very dull dog and does not even listen when I talk. Not
simpatico, I suppose. He will never find out anything. Will you, I
wonder? Have you any ideas? A new broom sweeps clean, as you say."

"I must suck your brains before you suck mine, Doria," said Peter
genially. "I want to hear what you think of this man in the red
waistcoat. We must have a talk."

"Gladly, gladly, Signor Peter. I have seen him now many times--in
England three--four times--in Italy once. He is always the same."

"Not a spook?"

"A spirit? No. Very much alive. But how he lives and what he lives
for--who can tell?"

"You do not fear on account of Mr. Redmayne?"

"I much fear on account of him," answered Doria. "And when my wife
told me that she had seen him, I telegraphed from Turin that they
should be careful and run no risk whatever of a meeting. Jenny's
uncle