The name was 'Giuditta Astarita,' and under it, in another character, was printed the word 'Somnambulist.' There was nothing at all unnatural in the name or the profession, in Naples, where somnambulists are plentiful enough.

And the name itself was a Neapolitan one, and by no means uncommon.

The card, however, was white and clean, which argued either that Giuditta Astarita had not long been a professional clairvoyante, or else that she had recently changed her lodgings.

Bosio knew nothing about her, except that she had suddenly acquired an extraordinary reputation as a seer, and that many people in society had lately visited her, and had come away full of extraordinary stories about her power.

He rang the little tinkling bell, which was answered by a very respectably dressed woman servant with only one eye,--a fact which Bosio noticed because it was the blind side of her face which first appeared as the door opened.
The Signora Giuditta Astarita was at home, and there was no other visitor.