CHAPTER XV

A GHOST


The next morning, while he rubbed his bruises in a hot bath, Brendon
determined upon a course of action. He proposed to tell Jenny and
her husband exactly what had happened to him, merely concealing the
end of the story.

He breakfasted, lighted his pipe and limped over to Villa Pianezzo.
He was not in reality very lame, but accentuated the stiffness. Only
Assunta appeared, though Brendon's eyes had marked Doria and Jenny
together in the neighbourhood of the silkworm house as he entered
the garden. He asked for Giuseppe and, having left Brendon in the
sitting-room of the villa, Assunta departed. Almost immediately
afterward Jenny greeted him with evident pleasure but reproved him.

"We waited an hour for supper," she said, "then Giuseppe would wait
no longer. I was beginning to get frightened and I have been
frightened all night. I am thankful to see you, for I feared
something serious might have happened."

"Something serious did happen. I've got a strange story to tell. Is
your husband within reach? He must hear it, too, I think. He may be
in some danger as well as others."

She expressed impatience and shook her head.