"Dead! Ay, that is a pity, a pity! But MY master is not dead--no, no! I am not such an old fool as to believe that." I paid no heed to his rambling talk, but read the message Nina had sent to me through him.
"I am BROKEN-HEARTED!" so ran the delicately penciled lines.

"Will you kindly telegraph my DREADFUL loss to Signor Ferrari?
I shall be much obliged to you." I looked up from the perfumed missive and down at the old butler's wrinkled visage; he was a short man and much bent, and something in the downward glance I gave him evidently caught and riveted his attention, for Tie clasped his hands together and muttered something I could not hear.
"Tell your mistress," I said, speaking slowly and harshly, "that I will do as she wishes.

That I am entirely at her service.

Do you understand ?" "Yes, yes! I understand!" faltered Giacomo, nervously, "My master never thought me foolish--I could always understand him--" "Do you know, my friend," I observed, in a purposely cold and cutting tone, "that I have heard somewhat too much about your master?
The subject is tiresome to me! Were your master alive, he would say you were in your dotage! Take my message to the countess at once." The old man's face paled and his lips quivered--he made an attempt to draw up his shrunken figure with a sort of dignity as he answered "Eccellenza, my master would never speak to me so--never, never!" Then his countenance fell, and he muttered, softly--"Though it is just--I am a fool--I am mistaken--quite mistaken--there is no resemblance!" After a little pause he added, humbly, "I will take your message, eccellenza." And stooping more than ever, he shambled out of the room.
My heart smote me as he disappeared; I had spoken very harshly to the poor old fellow--but I instinctively felt that it was necessary to do so.

His close and ceaseless examination of me--his timidity when he approached me--the strange tremors he experienced when I addressed him, were so many warnings to me to be on my guard with this devoted domestic.