Luca shook his head wearily.

There would be one beautiful thing there, indeed, he knew; but
what use would that be to him?

"The child--the child--" he stammered, and then remembered that he
must not disclose Raffaelle's secret.

"My child?" said Signor Giovanni. "Oh, he will be here; he will be
sure to be here: wherever there is a painted thing to be seen,
there always, be sure, is Raffaelle."

Then the good man sauntered within from the loggia, to exchange
salutations with Ser Benedetto, who, in a suit of fine crimson
with doublet of sad-colored velvet, was standing ready to advance
bareheaded into the street as soon as the hoofs of the duke's
charger should strike on the stones.

"You must be anxious in your thoughts," said Signor Giovanni to
him. "They say a youth from Pesaro brings something fine: if you
should find yourself bound to take a stranger into your workroom
and your home--"

"If he be a man of genius, he will be welcome," answered Messer
Ronconi, pompously. "Be he of Pesaro, or of Fano, or of Castel
Durante, I go not back from my word: I keep my word, to my own
hindrance even, ever."

"Let us hope it will bring you only joy and triumph here," said