'The Signor remembers that.

But that was in the old happy days before war came.
The place is long since shut.

The people here are too poor to dance and sing.' 'All the same I would like to have another look at it,' I said, and I slipped an English sovereign into his hand.
He glanced at it in surprise and his manner changed.

'The Signor is a Prince, and I will do his will.' He clapped his hands and the negro appeared, and at his nod took his place behind a little side-counter.
'Follow me,' he said, and led us through a long, noisome passage, which was pitch dark and very unevenly paved.

Then he unlocked a door and with a swirl the wind caught it and blew it back on us.
We were looking into a mean little yard, with on one side a high curving wall, evidently of great age, with bushes growing in the cracks of it.