约翰在小溪边遇到了受雇于绑匪的医生，医生告诉约翰一些有关绑匪的信息并建议约翰交出赎金，就此了事。而费雷尔不想因此事玷污自己的名声，他拿了约翰的枪打算伺机行事，然而由于迟迟没有行动，枪被搜走了，他们陷入了困境中……
And now Uncle John，finding himself left alone，took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
He felt very sorry for young Ferralti，but believed hissympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.By and by Mr.Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to ？nd out something of his history.
The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.Near the house was a large vegetable garden，which，being now shaded by the overhanging cliffs，was being tended by a sour—visaged Sicilian.Uncle John watched him for a time，but the fellow paid no heed to him.Every servant connected with the duke's establishment seemed surlya and moroseb，and this was the more remarkable because the country folk and villagers Uncle John had met were usually merry and light—hearted.
Down by the brook were green meadows and groves of fruit trees.The little gentleman followed the stream for some distance，and finally came upon a man seated on the bankabove a broad pool，intently engaged in ？shing.It proved tobe the dandified old doctor，who wore gloves to protect his hands and a broad—rimmed straw hat to shade his face.
Uncle John stood beside the motionless figure for a moment，watching the line.Then，forgetting he was in aforeign country，he asked carelessly："Any luck？""Not yet，"was the quiet reply，in clear English."It is too early to interest the ？shes.An hour later they will bite.""Then why did you come so soon ？""To escape that hell—holea yonder，"nodding his head toward the house.
Uncle John was surprised.
"But you are not a prisoner，doctor，"he ventured to say."Except through the necessity of earning a livelihood.IlDuca pays well—or rather the Duchessa does，for she is thehead of this household.I am skillful，and worth my price，and they know it.""You say the Duchessa is the head of the house？""Assuredly，signore.Il Duca is her slave.She plans and directs everything，and her son but obeys her will.""Did she send him to America？""I think so.But do not misunderstand me.The Duke is clever on his own account，and almost as wicked as his old mother.And between them they are training the child to be as bad as they are.It is dreadful.""Have you been here long ？""For seven years，signore.""But you can resign whenever you please？""Why not？But the doubt makes me uneasy，sometimes.
In another year I would like to go to Venice，and retire from professional life.I am a Venetian，you observe；no dastardlya brigand of a Sicilian.And in another year I shall have suf？cient means to retire and end my days in peace.Here I save every centessimo I make，for I can spend nothing."Uncle John sat down upon the bank beside the con？ding Venetian.
