“Who do you mean?” asked the prince.
“Captain Altavilla,” replied Jacomo.
“What has he done?” asked the prince.
“What has he done, my lord?” said Jacomo. “First, your excellency will recollect I apprised you of his regularly putting his silver cover in his pocket.”
“Well, go on,” said the prince.
“I beg your pardon,” said Jacomo; “but your excellency answered, that so long as he only pocketed his own, nothing was to be said.”
“I recollect I said so perfectly well,” said the prince.
“Well, my lord,” said Jacomo, “to-day, it seems that he has not only taken his own, but his neighbours’ also, for there are eight missing.”
“Ha! that’s quite another affair,” said the prince; “I must communicate with him on the matter.”
He took a sheet of paper, and wrote the following note:—