"See her! No!" vehemently exclaimed the duke. Then recollecting himself, he inquired:
"Are you sure the man has gone to Paris?"
"Si, signor; I drove him myself, in my little cart, to San Stephano, where he took the train."
"You say that he left on the same day in which he brought the lady here?" inquired the duke, with more interest.
"Si, signor. They arrived in the afternoon, and he went away again in the evening."
"Hum. Why did he go so soon?"
"Affairs, signor. It is not to be thought he would have left the signora so sick if it had not been for affairs."
"The lady is sick, then?"
"Very sick, signor."
"What is the matter with her?"