He analysed everything he had seen and heard, everything that had made him suspicious that the Ansidei Madonna was a fake. But at the end of the summary the questions he had asked himself were still the same, still unanswered and still a strange puzzle that he could not unravel.
He sat in the garden until the sun had set, when he knew it was time for him to have a bath and change for dinner.
He saw as he sat down with his host to another excellent meal that Sir Julius looked tired.
So as soon as they had finished, he rose from his chair and said to his host,
“I fear that our excursion to the Palazzo and the gaieties of last night have proved too much for you. I therefore suggest that you go to bed.”
“I would like to do that,” Sir Julius said gratefully. “At the same time I feel rather
