"Had he any reason for disappearing?"
"Signore!"
"Forgive me if I appear rude," I said in a deprecating tone; "but indeed, Signorina, to find out all I must know all."
"Well, Signore, I am telling you all," she replied petulantly. "It was most strange his going away from the theatre."
"How so?"
"He left the Ezzelino in his stage-dress!"
"Ah!"
I jumped to my feet in a state of uncontrollable excitement, for I saw at once that I was on the right track. The antique dress was explained now! it was the dress he wore in the last act of "Faust."
"But surely, Signorina, that was very extraordinary," I said, pausing in my walk; "no one would walk the streets of Verona in a dress like that."
"I can explain that, Signore. When Guiseppe came from Rome, a friend came with him who was very ill--a baritone singer, who was in the same company at the Apollo. I was told at the Ezzelino that just before the last act of the opera, Guiseppe received a note saying that his friend was dying, so as soon as the curtain fell, he threw on a cloak which hid his dress, and went away as quickly as possible, so as to see his friend before he died."