have never seen anything like her, I assure you. She is altogether too
beautiful. If I had my way all the beautiful women would be placed in
a convent where no man could see them. Then there would be no fighting
and no flirting, and the plain women could secure husbands. Beautiful
women are dangerous. She is rich, too."

"Of course! That's what Martel says, and that is exactly the way he
says it. But describe her."

"Oh, I have never seen her! I merely know that she is very rich and
very beautiful." He went off into a number of rapturous "issimas!"
"Now as for the Conte, I know him like a book. I know his every
thought."

"But Martel has been abroad for ten years, and he has only returned
within a month."

"To be sure, but I come from the village this side of San Sebastiano,
and my second cousin Ricardo is his uomo d'affare--his overseer. It
is a very great position of trust which Ricardo occupies, for I must
tell you that he attends to the leasing of the entire estate during
the Conte's absence in France, or wherever it is he draws those
marvelous pictures. Ricardo collects the rents." With true Sicilian
naivete the priest added: "He is growing rich! Beato lui! He for one
will not need to go to your golden America. Is it true, Signore, that
in America any one who wishes may be rich?"

"Quite true," smiled the young man. "Even our beggars are rich."

The priest wagged his head knowingly. "My mother's cousin, Alfio