"Non, signor; but I will answer questions," he declared, as he bowed deferentially, and remained standing.
"Did a gentleman and lady arrive here about ten days ago!"
"Si, signor—a grand milord, and a beautiful miladi. But they have been here before, signor, about two years ago."
"Ah! Where are they now?"
"At their old lodgings, signor—at the cottage of Beppo, the vine-dresser. The signor is a good friend of the young milord and miladi?" questioned the landlord, deferentially, but very anxiously; for just then it flashed upon his memory that two years previous another grand "signor," of reverend age like this one, had come inquiring about the young pair, and had ended in breaking up their union for the time.
"I have known the lady for about a year, or a little longer; the gentleman only a few months; but I can scarcely lay claim to so an intimate a relation to them as 'friendship' would imply," answered the duke, evasively, and putting a severe constraint upon himself.
The landlord was completely deceived and thrown off his guard.
"How far from the village does this vine-dresser live?" inquired the duke.
"Just on the outside, signor—just at the foot of the mountain—about three miles from this house."
"Can I have a carriage to take me there this evening."