One of these visitants excited my curiosity; he was a middle-aged man of austere countenance; shabby in attire, but with the bearing of one accustomed to command.

Arriving always at exactly the same moment, he seated himself in his accustomed place, drew his hat over his brows, and began to munch bread.

No word did I hear him speak.

As soon as he appeared in the doorway, the waiter called out, with respectful hurry, "Don Ferdinando!" and in a minute his first course was served.

Bent like a hunchback over the table, his hat dropping ever lower, until it almost hid his eyes, the Don ate voraciously.