When Minna had studied the entire company of the guests, and then turned to the sole representative of the house itself, if representative he were, who was not even a relation, she decided that he was quite the most interesting person under that roof, the person whose acquaintance was assuredly best worth having--and this even after the wretched contretemps (whether his fault or hers she never could decide) which had taken place on her arrival at the house. She had come, soon after lunch one day, with a great deal of luggage: two or three large trunks, and the usual accompaniment of travelling-bags, hold-alls, umbrellas, sunshades, and cloaks. She was received on the threshold by Signor Oriole, who opened the door wide, as wide as it would go, and, smiling upon her, bade her welcome. He was attired, as she perceived, in the same rusty black as on the day she had first seen him; there was ever about him the same appearance of a gentleman, and the bow he made her was a courtly one. All this Minna saw vaguely, but her thoughts were taken up with her luggage, which was being borne upstairs by two stout _facchini_. She had not the faintest idea that Signor Giuseppe attached any importance to her coming, and she replied to his greeting with a comprehensive, vague kind of bow, and an absent expression, while she said quickly: ‘Oh, will you tell them into which room to put the luggage? It must all go into the bedroom for the present, and I will decide afterwards what to do with it.’ So engrossed was she with this important question, that she did not clearly see--though she had a general impression to that effect--the sudden violent change which came over Signor Giuseppe’s countenance. The smile--the genial smile of welcome--faded from it; it flushed angrily. His figure became stiff and rigid. Without bestowing another look on Minna, he cried out in a sharp harsh tone: ‘Ettore!’ Ettore quickly appeared, running and attentive, in answer to this summons. Signor Giuseppe waved his hand with an imperial gesture towards the group near the door--the lady, the luggage, the _facchini_--and in a commanding tone said: ‘Send the people here to take the orders of the signora about her luggage. At once, do you hear?--at once!’ His voice trembled with excitement. ‘Si, signore,’ replied the imperturbable one, with a glance from his liquid eyes towards the arrival. ‘At once,’ he added, after a thoughtful pause of some duration.