Giuseppe gladly agreed.

"We will go up to the shrine of Madonna del farniente," he declared;
and when the time came, Peter found him at the spot. They ascended
the hill side by side and the elder invited Doria's aid.

"Between ourselves," he began, "I am not too well pleased with the
way this inquiry is panning out. Brendon's all right and means as
well as any bull that ever I worked with. He does a clever thing
here and there--as when he shammed death up on the mountain; but
what was the sense of setting that trap and then missing his man? I
shouldn't have done that. You wouldn't have done it. In plain words
there's some dope coming between Mark and his work, and I should
like to hear what you think of him, you being an independent
witness and a pretty shrewd cuss. You've had a chance to study his
make-up, so tell me what you think. I'm tired of fooling around this
job--and being fooled myself."

"Marco is in love with my wife," answered Giuseppe calmly. "That is
what's the matter with him. And, as I don't trust my wife in this
affair and still believe that she knows more about the red man than
anybody else, I think, as long as she hoodwinks Brendon, he will be
no manner of use to you."

Peter pretended to be much astonished.

"My stars! You take it pretty cool!"

"For the good reason that I am no longer in love with my wife