Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad

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"I assure you we have no official knowledge of such a person. There are

dukes in Sicily, to be sure; but 'Il Duca' means nothing. Perhaps you

can tell me to whom you refer?"

"See here," said the lawyer, brusquely; "I know your methods, _questore

mia_, but they won't prove effective in this case. If you think an

American is helpless in this country you are very much mistaken. But, to

save time, I am willing to submit to your official requirements. I will

pay you well for the rescue of my friend."

"All shall be done that is possible."

"But if you do not find him at once, and return him to us unharmed, I

will have a regiment of soldiers in Taormina to search your mountains

and break up the bands of brigands that infest them. When I prove that

brigands are here and that you were not aware of them, you will be

disgraced and deposed from your office."

The official shrugged his shoulders, a gesture in which the Sicilian is

as expert as the Frenchman.

"I will welcome the soldiery," said he; "but you will be able to prove

nothing. The offer of a reward may accomplish more--if it is great

enough to be interesting."

"How great is that?"

"Can I value your friend? You must name the reward yourself. But even

then I can promise nothing. In the course of our duty every effort is

now being made to find the missing American. But we work in the dark, as

you know. Your friend may be a suicide; he may have lost his mind and

wandered into the wilderness; he may have committed some crime and

absconded. How do I know? You say he is missing, but that is no reason

the brigands have him, even did brigands exist, which I doubt. Rest

assured, signore, that rigid search will be made. It is my boast that I

leave no duty unfulfilled."

Mr. Watson walked back to the telegraph office and found an answer to

his message. The American consul was ill and had gone to Naples for

treatment. When he returned, his clerk stated, the matter of the

disappearance of John Merrick would immediately be investigated.

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