Louise never conveyed the impression of being especially sincere, but the pleasant words and manners she habitually assumed rendered her an agreeable companion, and this faculty of masking her real feelings now stood her in good stead and served to relieve the weight of anxiety that oppressed them all.
Frascatti came limping back with his tired followers in the early dawn, and reported that no trace of the missing man had been observed.

There were no brigands and no Mafia; on that point all his fellow townsmen agreed with him fully.

But it was barely possible some lawless ones who were all unknown to the honest Taorminians had made the rich American a prisoner.
Il Duca?
Oh, no, signorini! A thousand times, no.

Il Duca was queer and unsociable, but not lawless.

He was of noble family and a native of the district.