searching in vain. The boat by which we had left Colico had gone back
to Colico, but the people swore that nothing had been left on board
it. It was just possible that such a box might have gone on to Milan
with the luggage of other passengers.

I slept at Como, and on the following morning I went on to Milan.
There was no trace of the box to be found in that city. I went round
to every hotel and travelling office, but could hear nothing of it.
Parties had gone to Venice, and Florence, and Bologna, and any of them
might have taken the box. No one, however, remembered it; and I
returned back to Como, and thence to Bellaggio, reaching the latter
place at nine in the evening, disappointed, weary, and cross.

"Has Monsieur found the accursed trunk?" said the Bellaggio Boots,
meeting me on the quay.

"In the name of the--, no. Has it not turned up here?"

"Monsieur," said the Boots, "we shall all be mad soon. The poor
master, he is mad already." And then I went up to the house.

"My jewels!" shouted Mrs. Greene, rushing to me with her arms
stretched out as soon as she heard my step in the corridor. I am sure
that she would have embraced me had I found the box. I had not,
however, earned any such reward. "I can hear nothing of the box
either at Como or Milan," I said.

"Then what on earth am I to do for my money?" said Mr. Greene.

I had had neither dinner nor supper, but the elder Greenes did not