三个侄女收到塔托捎给她们的信，信中约翰让沃尔森帮助三个侄女尽快筹备好赎金。帕齐和沃尔森等人都认为尽快备好这笔钱是解救约翰叔叔的最稳妥的办法，然而贝丝却觉着被敲诈是件不体面的事情，当她确认了塔托是瓦尔迪的孩子之后，她露出了一抹胜利的微笑……
Kenneth Forbes had always been an unusual boy.He had grown up in an unfriendly atmosphere，unloved and uncared for，and resented this neglect with all the force of his impetuousa nature.He had hated Aunt Jane，and regarded her as cruel and selfish—a fair estimate of her character—until Aunt Jane's nieces taught him to be more considerate and forgiving.Patricia，especially，had exercised a gentler in？uence upon the arbitrary youth，and as a consequence they had become staunchb friends.
When the unexpected inheritance of a fortune changed the boy's condition from one of dependence to one of importance he found he had no longer any wrongs to resent；therefore his surly and brusque moods gradually disappeared，and he became a pleasant companion to those he cared for.With strangers he still remained reserved and suspicious，and occasionally the old sullen ？ts would seize him and it was well to avoid his society while they lasted.
On his arrival at Taormina，Kenneth had entered earnestlyinto the search for Uncle John，whom he regarded most affectionately；and，having passed the day tramping over the mountains，he would fill the evening with discussions and arguments with the nieces concerning the fate of their missing uncle.
But as the days dragged wearily away the search slackenedcand was finally abandoned.Kenneth set up his easel in the garden and began to paint old Etna，with its wreath of snow and the soft gray cloud of vapor that perpetually hovered over it.
"Anyone with half a soul could paint that！"said Patsy；and as a proof of her assertion the boy did very well indeed，except that his uneasiness on Mr.Merrick's account served to distract him more or less.
Nor was Kenneth the only uneasy one.Mr.Watson，hard—headed man of resource as he was，grew more and more dejecteda as he realized the impossibility of interesting the authorities in the case.The Sicilian officials were silent and uncommunicative；the Italians wholly indifferent.If strangers came to Taormina and got into difficulties，the government was in no way to blame.It was their duty to tolerate tourists，but those all too energetic foreigners must take care of themselves.
Probably Mr.Watson would have cabled the State Department at Washington for assistance had he not expected each day to put him in communication with his friend，and in the end he congratulated himself upon his patience.The close of the week brought a sudden and startling change in the situation.
The girls sat on the shaded terrace one afternoon，watching the picture of Etna grow under Kenneth's deft touches，when they observed a child approaching them withshy dif？dence.It was a beautiful Sicilian boy，with wonderful brown eyes and a delicate pro？le.After assuring himself that the party of young Americans was quite separate from any straggling guest of the hotel，the child came near enough to say，in a low tone：
"I have a message from Signor Merrick."
They crowded around him eagerly then，raining questions from every side；but the boy shrank away and said，warningly：
"If we are overheard，signorini mia，it will be very bad.No one must suspect that I am here.""Is my uncle well？"asked Patsy，imploringly.
"Quite well，mees."
"And have you also news of Count Ferralti ？"anxiously enquired Louise.
"Oh，Ferralti ？He is better.Some teeth are knocked out，but he eats very well without them，"replied the child，with an amused laugh.
"Where are our friends，my lad？"Kenneth asked.
"I cannot describe the place，signore；but here are letters to explain all."The child produced a bulky package，and after a glance at each，in turn，placed it in Patsy's hands."Read very secretly，signorini，and decide your course of action.To—morrow I will come for your answer.In the meantime，con？de in no one but yourselves.If you are indiscreeta，you alone willbecome the murderers of Signor Merrick and the sad young Ferralti.""Who are you？"asked Beth，examining the child closely.
"I am called Tato，signorina mia.""Where do you live？""It is all explained in the letters，believe me."Beth glanced at Patricia，who was examining the package，and now all crowded around for a glimpse of Uncle John's well—known handwriting.The wrapper was inscribed：
"To Miss Doyle，Miss De Graf and Miss Merrick，Hotel Castello—a—Mare，Taormina.
By the safe hands of Tato."
Inside were two letters，one addressed to Louise personally.She seized this and ran a little distance away，while Beth took Uncle John's letter from Patsy's trembling hands，and having opened it read aloud in a clear and composeda voice the following：
"My dear Nieces：(and also my dear friends，Silas Watson and Kenneth Forbes，if they are with you)Greeting ！You have perhaps been wondering at my absence，which I will explain by saying that I am visiting a noble acquaintance in a very cozy and comfortable retreat which I am sure would look better from a distance.My spirits and health are A No.1and itis my intention to return to you as soon as you have executed a little commission for me，which I want you to do exactly asI hereby instruct you.In other words，if you don't execute the commission you will probably execute me.
