Mrs. Greene had given the landlord an hour to find the box, and during
that time the landlord, the landlady, their three daughters, and all
the servants in the house certainly did exert themselves to the
utmost. Half a dozen times they came to my door, but I was
luxuriating in a washing-tub, making up for that four-o'clock start
from Chiavenna. I assured them, however, that the box was not there,
and so the search passed by. At the end of the hour I went back to
the Greenes according to promise, having resolved that some one must
be sent on to Como to look after the missing article.

There was no necessity to knock at their sitting-room door, for it was
wide open. I walked in, and found Mrs. Greene still engaged in
attacking the landlord, while all the porters who had carried the
luggage up to the house were standing round. Her voice was loud above
the others, but, luckily for them all, she was speaking English. The
landlord, I saw, was becoming sulky. He spoke in Italian, and we none
of us understood him, but I gathered that he was declining to do
anything further. The box, he was certain, had never come out of the
steamer. The Boots stood by interpreting into French, and, acting as
second interpreter, I put it into English.

Mr. Greene, who was seated on the sofa, groaned audibly, but said
nothing. Sophonisba, who was sitting by him, beat upon the floor with
both her feet.

"Do you hear, Mr. Greene?" said she, turning to him. "Do you mean to
allow that vast amount of property to be lost without an effort? Are
you prepared to replace my jewels?"

"Her jewels!" said Sophonisba, looking up into my face. "Papa had to