“Prince Hercules de Butera has the honour of informing Captain Altavilla, that as he no longer dines at home, and being by this fortuitous circumstance deprived of the pleasure of seeing him as previously, he begs he will accept the trifle he sends herewith as a small indemnity for the change this determination must make in his arrangements.”
“Stay,” continued the prince, giving the major-domo fifty ounces (twenty-six pounds sterling), “take this money, and deliver it and the letter to-morrow to Captain Altavilla.”
Jacomo, who knew it was no use speaking after the prince had decided, bowed and left the room. The prince continued quietly arranging his papers when, at the end of about ten minutes, hearing a noise at the door of his room, he raised his head, and saw a man dressed as a Calabrian peasant standing on the threshold, with his hat in one hand and a bundle in the other.
“Who is there?” said the prince.
“I, my lord,” replied the peasant.
“And who are you?” asked the prince.
“Pascal Bruno,” replied the visitor.
“And what do you come for?” asked the prince.
“First, my lord,” said Pascal Bruno, advancing and emptying his hat full of gold on the desk; “first, I have brought you the three hundred ounces you so kindly lent me: they were employed for the purpose I mentioned to you—the inn that was burnt down has been rebuilt.”
“Ah, ah! you are a man of your word,” said the prince; “well, I am glad of it.”