Corona herself was interested, for she alone understood his sudden absence, and was anxious to hear the common opinion concerning it.
The theories advanced were various.

Some said he had been quarrelling with the local authorities of Saracinesca, who interfered with his developments and improvements upon the estate, and they gave laughable portraits of the village sages with whom he had been engaged.

Others said he had only stopped there a day, and had been in Naples.

One said he had been boar-hunting; another, that the Saracinesca woods had been infested by a band of robbers, who were terrorising the country.
"And what do you say, Del Ferice ?" asked Corona, seeing a cunning smile upon the man's pale fat face.
"It is very simple," said Ugo; "it is a very simple matter indeed.

If the Duchessa will permit me, I will call him, and we will ask him directly what he has been doing.