"'How long has he been here?'
"'About a month.'
"'Is he a painter?
"'No, I don't think so.'
"'What is he, then?'
"'Ah, Signore, who can tell? At first his letters were sent to me—now he gets them himself. The last were from Monte Carlo, from the Hotel—Hotel—I forget the name. But why does the Signore want to know? He pays the rent on the day—that is much better.'
"'Where does he come from?'
"Pietro shrugged his shoulders.
"'That will do, Pietro.'
"There was evidently nothing to be gotten out of him.