To Rome? You're trifling with me. People do not go to Rome in August."

"Pardon, Signorino. People go to Rome for the feast of the Assumption.
That is the 15th. Afterwards they come back," said Marietta, firmly.

"I withdraw my protest," said Peter. "They have gone to Rome for the
feast of the Assumption. Afterwards they will come back."

"Precisely, Signorino. But you have now the right to visit the castle,
upon presentation of your card. You address yourself to the porter at
the lodge. The castle is grand, magnificent. The Court of Honour alone
is thirty metres long."

Marietta stretched her hands to right and left as far as they would go.

"Marietta," Peter enquired solemnly, "are you familiar with the tragedy
of 'Hamlet'?"

Marietta blinked.

"No, Signorino."

"You have never read it," he pursued, "in that famous edition from which
the character of the Prince of Denmark happened to be omitted?"

Marietta shook her head, wearily, patiently.

Wearily, patiently, "No, Signorino," she replied.

"Neither have I," said he, "and I don't desire to."

Marietta shrugged her shoulders; then returned gallantly to her charge.

"If you would care to visit the castle, Signorino, you could see the
crypt which contains the tombs of the family of Farfalla, the former
owners. They are of black marble and alabaster, with gilding--very rich.
You could also see the wine-cellars. Many years ago a tun there burst,
and a serving man was drowned in the wine. You could also see the bed
in which Nabulione, the Emperor of Europe, slept, when he was in this
country. Also the ancient kitchen. Many years ago, in a storm, the
skeleton of a man fell down the chimney, out upon the hearth. Also
what is called the Court of Foxes. Many years ago there was a plague
of foxes; and the foxes came down from the forest like a great army,
thousands of them. And the lords of the castle, and the peasants, and
the village people, all, all, had to run away like rabbits--or the foxes
would have eaten them. It was in what they call the Court of Foxes that
the King of the foxes held his court. There is also the park. In the
park there are statues, ruins, and white peacocks."

"What have I in common with ruins and white peacocks?" Peter demanded
tragically, when Marietta had brought her much-gesticulated exposition
to a close. "Let me impress upon you once for all that I am not a
tripper. As for your castle--you invite me to a banquet-hall deserted.
As