The only thing that surprised him was that the boy should ever have left the inn alive after being robbed of everything he had about him that was worth taking.
Moreover, since Marcello had been found, and was alive and well, it was of very little use to try and discover exactly what had happened to him after he had been last seen by the shore.

But the aspect of things had changed since Ercole had heard the sailor's story, and his wish to see the place where the boy had been hidden so long overcame any repugnance he felt to visiting a neighbourhood which had unpleasant associations with his younger years.
He sat and waited at the door, and before the sun rose a young woman came round the house with the big key and opened the place, just as Regina had done in old days.

She looked at Ercole, and he looked at her, and neither said anything as she went about her work, sprinkling the floor with water and then sweeping it, and noisily pulling the heavy benches about.

When this operation was finished, Ercole rose and went in, and sat down at the end of a table.

He took some bread and cheese from his canvas bag and began to eat, using his clasp-knife.
"If you wish wine," said the woman, "you will have to wait till the master comes down." Ercole only answered by raising his head and throwing out his chin, which means "no" in gesture language.