When his grandfather left the table, he followed him uninvited on a tour of inspection around the castle and grounds, and, finally, retiring with him to the library, whither the old duke usually went to rest, read, or meditate sometime during the morning, he coiled himself up in an armchair, took a small book out of his pocket, and began to study it dilligently. His grandfather glanced at him affectionately and with interest, from time to time. He was lonely in his old age, and liked to have the boy about. He had nobody left to him now who could touch his heart or take him out of himself as Diavolo did, for nobody else attached themselves to him in the same way, or showed such an unaffected preference for having him all to themselves, "What are you reading, sir?" he asked him at last. "'Euripides,' sir," Diavolo answered, glancing over the top of his book for a moment as he spoke. "I'm just where Hippolytus exclaims: 'O Jove! wherefore indeed didst thou place in the light of the sun that specious evil to men--woman?'" "Are you reading 'Euripides' with a 'Key'?" his grandfather asked sternly. "No, I am reading a key to 'Euripides,'" Diavolo answered, "Don't you know your Greek, sir?" his grandfather demanded. "I'm just looking to see, sir," Diavolo rejoined, returning to his book. When he had finished the page, he looked up at his grandfather, who was sitting with his hands folded upon a large volume he held open on his knee, meditating, apparently. "Beastly bad tone about women in the Classics," Diavolo remarked; "don't you think so, sir?" "Ah, my boy, you don't know women yet!" the old duke responded. "Then I've not made the most of my opportunities," Diavolo said with a grin, "for we meet with a fine variety in the houses about here! But what I object to in these classical chaps," he resumed, "is the way they sneaked and snivelled about women's faults, as if they had none of their own! and then their mean trick of going back upon the women, and reproaching them with their misfortunes." "What do you mean by that?" his grandfather asked.