sharp look-out for possible customers.

As the Marchesino turned on the bridge that leads towards Castel dell'
Ovo one of these boatmen met him and saluted him.

"Good-day, Giuseppe," said the Marchesino, addressing him familiarly
with a broad Neapolitan accent.

"Good-day, Signorino Marchesino," replied the man. "Do you want a
boat? I will take you for--"

The Marchesino drew out his cigarette case.

"I don't want a boat. But perhaps you can tell me something."

"What is it, Signorino Marchesino?" said the man, looking eagerly at
the cigarette case which was now open, and which displayed two
tempting rows of fat Egyptian cigarettes reposing side by side.

"Do you know a boat--white with a green line--which sometimes comes
into the harbor from the direction of Posilipo? It was here this
afternoon, or it passed here. I don't know whether it went on to the
Arsenal."

"White with a green line?" said the man. "That might be--who was there
in it, Signorino Marchesino?"

"Two ladies, one old and one very young. The young lady--"

"Those must be the ladies from the island," interrupted the man. "The