The sentry stood still, however, and after waiting for half a minute, I spoke, my blood rising a little within me. "Will you be good enough to announce the Cavaliere di Savelli--on an urgent affair?" The man turned round to a closed door behind him, rapping at it with his mailed hand. From inside I heard a shuffling noise, a heavy body lurched against the door, and there was a scratching at the wood. No answer, however, came to the knock. "Knock again," I said, a little impatiently, and this time a deep voice called out-- "Enter." I placed my hand on the door to open it when the sentry spoke with unexpected civility. "Take care of the beast, signore!" "The beast--what beast?" I asked, pretending not to know anything of Pluto's existence. "His excellency's bear--do not fear it--else it might injure you--_cospetto!_ But it is a perfect fiend if you run from it. It killed a poor woman the other day." "Thanks, friend, I will beware," I answered, and pushed open the door, springing back a yard as I did so, for with a short roar that echoed through the house, a huge bear rose on his hind legs, and struck out at my face with his claws. "_Diavolo!_ go back," shouted the sentry to the brute, and I whipped out my sword; but the animal merely stood in the open doorway, making no further advance, his great jaws open, and puffing like a blacksmith's bellows. "_Cospetto!_ excellency, call off the bear," shouted the sentry again, indeed he seemed positively to hate the animal, and from inside came a low deep-toned but mocking laugh. "Come back, Pluto--down, you brute--down!" then there was a heavy "thud," the tinkling of shivered glass, and the bear dropping on its fore feet, shambled back into the room. I was considerably startled, and not a little angry; but concealing these feelings, stepped boldly into the room, keeping my drawn sword still in my hand. "The Cavaliere di Baglioni?" I enquired.