Go, Mr.Fairfax, and I pray God you may be successful." Leglosse had already engaged a cab, and when I joined him I discovered that he had also brought a Sicilian police official with him.

This individual gave the driver his instructions, and away we went.

As we had informed the cabman, previous to setting out, that there was no time to be lost, we covered the distance in fine style, and just as the sun was sinking behind the mountains entered the little village on the outskirts of which the villa was situated.

It was a delightful spot, a mere cluster of human habitations, clinging to the mountain-side.

The Angelus was sounding from the campanile of the white monastery, further up the hill-side as we drove along the main street.