In a great city like that it was no wonder Nino could not find them; but De Pretis hoped that some of his pupils might be in correspondence with the contessina, and would be willing to give the requisite directions for reaching her.

But days passed, and a letter came from Nino written immediately after sending the telegram, and still we had accomplished nothing.

The letter merely amplified the telegraphic message.
"It is no use," I said to De Pretis.

"And besides, it is much better that he should forget all about it." "You do not know that boy," said the maestro, taking snuff.

And he was quite right, as it turned out.
Suddenly Nino wrote from London.