He drew on his gloves, and named the place whither he was going, aloud.

'Excellency,' said the waiter, while taking up and pretending to reckon the money for the bill: 'they have asked me whether there are two Counts Ammiani in Milan.' Carlo's eyebrows started.

'Can they be after me ?' he thought, and said: 'Certainly; there is twice anything in this world, and Milan is the epitome of it.' Acting a part gave him Agostino's catching manner of speech.

The waiter, who knew him now, took this for an order to say 'Yes.' He had evidently a respect for Ammiani's name: Carlo supposed that he was one of Milan's fighting men.

A sort of answer leading to 'Yes' by a circuit and the assistance of the hearer, was conveyed to the sbirri.