"Yes, your worship. A black bear that the cavaliere Paolo, who holds the house, has as a pet," and he commenced to weep. I felt for the faithful fellow's grief, but said nothing, and after a little he composed himself. "Come, Gian," I said, laying my hand on his shoulder, "be a man, and we will have an eye for an eye." He ground his teeth but made no reply, I and went on-- "How far is the house from here?" "Close," he said. "We can reach it by the Porto San Angelo." "Come, then." "There is no need for the crutches now," he remarked, as he tucked them under his arm. "I will use them when we come to the gate. Will your excellency follow?" As we walked northward over the hills, I continued my questions: "Who is the Cavaliere Paolo?" "A cousin of Count Carlo Baglioni, your worship. A man in middle life--my age--and a perfect devil." "I doubt not, the breed is a bad one. Has he many men with him?" "About six, excellency, and then, of course, there is the guard at the Porta San Angelo always at hand." "Now listen to me, for we may not have time to talk further of this. When you have shown me the house we must separate. Go to the Albergo of the Rubicon--you know it?" "Alas! no, excellency." "It is behind the Palazzo Piccinino; you cannot miss it. Go there, and await me a few steps from the doors--you follow?" "Yes, your worship." We had now crossed the Vici dell' Elce, but passing the gate of that name, went onwards, and after a stiff climb reached the Porta San Angelo. Here my companion, betaking himself once more to his crutches and keeping ahead of me, turned southwards along the road which lined the walls towards Santa Agnese. Shortly before reaching the church, we came to a small but solid-looking building, half fortress, half dwelling-house, and Gian, stopping dead in front of it, turned round and began his whine: "A copper for the poor cripple--a brown copper. The house, signore," speaking the last words under his breath as I came up. "Do you know the room?" I asked pretending to fumble for a coin. "In the tower behind," he answered rapidly, "may the saints bless your lordship," and he limped away. In order to gain time to look about, I put back my purse leisurely, and then, with the same object, proceeded to rearrange and retie the bows on my doublet. The face of the house was a little way back from the wall which it overlooked. The massive doorway was shut, and the windows on each side of it, as well as those set above, heavily grated. I was too near the house to see the tower behind, and it looked so deserted that it was hardly possible for six men to be on guard there.