费雷尔伯爵突然失踪了，客栈老板怀疑他为了不付住宿费潜逃了，露易丝极力否认。本来三个女孩想把这个消息告诉约翰叔叔，结果约翰叔叔也失踪了，在贝丝许下重金后，车夫带着一队人四散寻人，最后能找到约翰叔叔吗？
Uncle John grew to love Taormina.Its wildness and ruggednessa somehow reminded him of the Rockies in the old pioneer days，and he wandered through all the lanes of the quaint old town until he knew every cornice and cobblestone familiarly，and the women who sat weaving or mending before their squalidb but picturesque hovels all nodded a greeting to the cheery little American as he passed by.
He climbed Malo，too，a high peak crowned by a ruinedcastle；and also Mt.Venere，on the plateau of which an ancient city had once stood.His walking tours did him good，and frequently while the girls lay stretched upon the grass that lined the theatre enclosure，to idle the time or read or write enthusiastic letters home，Uncle John，scorning such laziness，would take his stick and climb mountains，or follow the rough paths that diverged from the highway just beyond the Catania Gate.
The tax gatherer whose tiny of？ce was just inside the gate came to know the little gentleman very well，and although he could speak no English he would bob his grizzled head and murmur："Buon giorno，signore！"as the stranger passed out on his daily stroll.
One afternoon Mr.Merrick went down the hill path leading from the Castello—a—Mare to Capo di San Andrea，and as he passed around a narrow ledge of rock came full upon two men seated upon a ？at stone.One was Valdi and the other Ferralti，and they seemed engaged in earnest conversation when he interrupted them.The Count smiled frankly and doffed his hat；the Duke frowned grimly，but also nodded.
Uncle John passed on.The path was wild and little frequented.He felt in his side pocket and grasped the handle of his revolver；but there was no attempt to follow or molesthim.Nevertheless，when he returned from the beach he cameup the longer winding roadway and was glad of the company of a ragged goatherd who，having no English，entertained "Il Signore"by singing ditties as he drove his goats before him.
The misgivingsa Uncle John had originally conceived concerning Count Ferralti returned in full force with this incident；but he resolved to say nothing of it to his nieces.Silas Watson would be with them in a couple of days more and he would consult the shrewd lawyer before he took anydecisive action.
Next morning after breakfast he left his nieces in the garden and said he would take a walk through the town and along the highway west，toward Kaggi.
"I'll be back in an hour or so，"he remarked，"for I havesome letters to write and I want them to catch the noon mail."So the girls sat on the terrace overlooking the sea andEtna，and breathed the sweet air and enjoyed the caressingsunshine，until they noticed the portiere coming hastily toward them.
"Pardon，signorini，"he said，breathlessly，"but it will be to oblige me greatly if you will tell me where Signor Ferralti is.""He is not of our party，"answered Patsy，promptly；but Louise looked up as if startled，and said："I have been expecting him to join us here.""Then you do not know？"exclaimed the portiere，in ananxious tone.
"Know what，sir？"asked the girl.
"That Signor Ferralti is gone.He has not been seen by any after last evening.He did not occupy his room.But worse，far worse，will I break you the news gently—his baggage is gone with him ！""His baggage gone ！"echoed Louise，greatly disturbed."And he did not tell you？You did not see him go？""Alas，no，signorina.His bill is still unsettled.He possessed two large travelling cases，which must have been carried out at the side entrance with stealth most deplorablea.The padrone is worried.Signor Ferralti is American，and Americans seldom treat us wrongfully.""Signor Ferralti is Italian，"answered Louise，stif？y.
"The name is Italian，perhaps；but he speaks only the English，"declared the portiere.
"He is not a rogue，however.Assure your master of that fact.When Mr.Merrick returns he will settle Count Ferralti'sbill.""Oh，Louise！"gasped Patsy.
"I don't understand it in the least，"continued Louise，looking at her cousins as if she were really bewildered."I left him in the courtyard last evening to ？nish his cigar，and he said he would meet us in the garden after breakfast.I am sure he had no intention of going away.And for the honor of American travellers his account here must be taken care of.""One thing is singular，"observed Beth，calmly."Therehas been no train since last you saw him.If Count Ferralti has left the hotel，where could he be？"The portiere brightened.
"Gia s'intende！"he exclaimed，"he must still be in Taormina—doubtless at some other hotel.""Will you send and ？nd out ？"asked Louise.
"I will go myself，and at once，"he answered."And thank you，signorina，for the kind assurance regarding the account.It will relieve the padrone very much."He hurried away again，and an uneasy silence fell uponthe nieces.
"Do you care for this young man.Louise？"asked Beth，pointedly，after the pause had become awkward.
"He is very attentive and gentlemanly，and I feel you have all wronged him by your unjust suspicions，"she replied，with spirit.