"Haven't you mistaken the name? There's a man named Milner, who has a daughter, a tall, rather smart dark-haired girl." "Milner," I repeated, recognising at once that in Leghorn the final "r" was added. "Yes, perhaps that's the name. He's a tall elderly man--a gentleman. His daughter's name is Lucie." "I know her," exclaimed Gemma quickly. "We've met them lots of times. They live in a flat at the other end of the promenade, towards the town." "I want to call. Do you know the number?" "Number nine in the Viale," replied the Countess promptly, with her slight American accent. "Second floor. Where did you meet them?" "In England. I returned from London only last night." "I don't think they are here," she said. "The week we arrived at the villa, nearly two months ago, Lucie called and said that they were going to spend the summer up at Roncegno, in the Trentino, a place that is becoming quite fashionable with the Italians. They left Leghorn, and I haven't seen them since." "I believe they are back," I said. "Anyhow I will leave a card." "Because the handsome Lucie has attracted you, eh?" asked the Countess, laughing mischievously. "Not at all," I protested. "I'm a confirmed bachelor, as you've known long ago." "Ah! men always say so," she remarked. "Why do you take such an intense interest in Milner and his daughter?" "Because they were kind to me in England," I replied briefly. "Well--he's a peculiar man," she said. "They have very few friends, I believe. He's a gentleman, no doubt, but in very reduced circumstances. My own idea is that when Lucie's dresses are paid for he has very great difficulty in making both ends meet. He's a bit of a mystery, they say." "You surprise me," I said. "I had no idea he was as poor as that." It was evident that James Harding Miller feigned poverty in Leghorn, in order to conceal his true calling. "The house is sufficient indication that they are not overburdened by money. In fact, a couple of years ago Lucie used to give English lessons to Baroness Borelli's two girls. Nowadays, however, Milner himself is away a great deal. I've often met him in the Corso in Rome, idling about outside the Aragno, and in Florence, Milan and other places, while Lucie stays at home with their old servant Marietta." "Why do you say he's a peculiar man?"