And at that he remembered what he had wanted to ask Nino. A couple of years ago when he was staying for the night with the very lively little English Consul at Naples, who had shewn him such curious Neapolitan diversions, he remembered his having said something about a cabaret, in a room behind which were held certain Satanic rites.... Possibly Nino might know, Nino had much gay native knowledge of an unexpected kind, and had many local stories to tell of the doings of the monstrous Emperor Tiberius, who took such wonderful holidays from the cares of State in Capri. These Satanic rites were as old as religion itself: in fact they were the earliest form in which religion, the belief in the supernatural, appeared, for originally the supernatural was an evil power to be propitiated. It was later that mankind had conceived of it as beneficent and loving.... Colin was out of the water when Nino came down. “Well, have you made her happy?” he asked. “What an age you’ve been, Nino!” Nino’s mouth twitched, and broke into a smile. “Sis-signor,” he said. “She is very happy.” “And what are you grinning at?” asked Colin. “She thought it was you at the telephone,” he said. “She thought I had gone to fetch you.” “And what did she say?” asked Colin. Nino schooled his mouth into gravity. “She said--scusi--but she said ‘Colin, darling, how perfectly sweet of you!’ So I said ‘Signora,’ and I think she understood for she--she rang away.” “Rang off,” said Colin, “you’re thinking of ‘ran away.’” “She is running away here,” said Nino. Colin lay back on the grass. “Why do men get in such a fuss about women?” he asked. “Chi sa? There are plenty for all,” said Nino. “Yes. Tell me more tales such as you told me at Capri about Tiberio.” Nino laughed. “Why does the signor love to hear of Tiberio? He was a fat old man.” “Yes, but full of ideas. He liked wickedness: the sort of man who would worship the devil.” “Sicuro!” “Italy’s a very wicked country,” said Colin. “I believe they worship the devil still in Naples.” Nino crossed himself. “So it is said.” “Why do you do that?” asked Colin. “I don’t believe you really think it protects you. It’s only a habit. Tell me about the worship of the devil in Naples.” “I know little,” said Nino, “and though others find it diverting, I would not find diversion in it. Why do they want to behave like street boys, and make faces at holy things? And it is not prudent. May not lightning strike them, or madness come on them? There are many things which the priests say offend Il Padre, which are diverting. But this is not one of them.”