The lieutenant seemed dissatisfied, and looked a long time at his unlighted, black cigar, in deep thought.
'Very well. Good-night, sergeant.' He nodded and turned away, but looked round before he had made two steps. 'Have two men ready all night, in case I should need them,' he added.
'Yes, sir.' The sergeant saluted again, and went back to his quarters.
The officer returned to his game of dominoes. He made one or two moves and then called the servant.
'Don Tebaldo Pagliuca is staying in the house, is he not?' he enquired. 'Present my compliments and ask if he will not come down and play a game.'
'The signore is out, Signor Lieutenant,' answered the servant.
'Indeed? I am sorry. I suppose he is strolling in the town. It is cooler in the streets.'
'I do not know,' the man replied, though he knew very well that Tebaldo had the innkeeper's horse.
The officer nodded, as though satisfied, and went on with his game. The deputy prefect looked at him enquiringly, but he vouchsafed no information. The official representative of the government was a rather foolish man, very much afraid of the Sicilians and of doing anything to attract the ill-will of the mafia.