He looked at it, and shook his head.
"I fear, signorina," he answered, with grave politeness, "that delivery is quite impossible. It is after hours, and the message will remain in the office, and be delivered with letters in the morning."
"But it must reach the captain to-night," I declared.
The man elevated his shoulders slightly, and showed his palms. This was the Tuscan gesture of regret.
"At Livorno they are not, I am sorry to say, very obliging."
"Then you believe it to be absolutely useless to send the message, in the expectation of it being delivered before morning?"
"The signorina understands me exactly."
"But what can I do?" I cried in desperation. "This message must reach the captain before midnight."
The man reflected for a moment. Then he answered me.
"There is but one way I can suggest."