For some reason, which the maid either did not know or would not disclose, the Signorina was
exiled for a time from Venice. She belonged to a good family there, but the name of the family the
maid also refused to divulge. She dared not tell it, she said. They had been in Florence for several
weeks, but had only taken the rooms below within the last two days. The Signorina received
absolutely no one, and the maid had been cautioned to say nothing whatever about her to any
person; but she had apparently succumbed in a measure to the blandish ments of gallant Pietro..