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Updated: May 16, 2025
The road was zigzag, making a long ascent across the face of the cape, then turning abruptly to wind back again, but always creeping upward until an open space showed the station far below and a rambling stone building at the edge of the cliff far above. "Behold!" cried Frascatti, pointing up, "the Grand Hotel Castello-a-Mare; is it not the excellenza location?"
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 flat 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.
The man waved an arm upward, and following the motion with their eyes they saw a line of precipitous cliffs that seemed impossible to scale. "Do you desire to go to the Grand Hotel Castello-a-Mare?" enquired the driver, politely. "Is it in Taormina?" "Most certainly, signore." "And you will take us?" "With pleasure, signore." "Oh; I didn't know. I supposed you were going to sleep again."
They had eaten a late but very satisfactory dinner at the Castello-a-Mare, where the return of the missing ones was hailed with joy by the proprietor and his assistants. Even the little bewhiskered head-waiter, who resembled a jack-in-the-box more than he did a man, strove to celebrate the occasion by putting every good thing the house afforded before the returned guests.
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.
Do you know of them?" "No," said the other. He cast an uneasy glance up and down the street. "I will meet you again, signorini," he added. "Which is your hotel?" "The Castello-a-Mare. It is delightful," said Beth. He nodded, as if pleased. Then, folding his cloak about him, he murmured "adios!" and stalked away without another word or look. "Queer fellow," remarked Uncle John.
In that of the Castello-a-Mare the man was awakening and rubbing his eyes. Uncle John said to him: "Good morning. Had a nice rest?" "I thank you, signore, I am well refreshed," was the reply. "By the way, can you tell us where the town of Taormina is? I hate to trouble you; but we'd like to know."
The drivers were mostly asleep inside them, although several stood in a group arguing in fluent Italian the grave question as to whether Signora Gani's cow had a black patch over its left shoulder, or not. Some of the carriages bore signs: "Hotel Timeo;" "Grand Hotel San Domenico;" "Hotel Castello-a-Mare;" "Grand Hotel Metropole," and so forth.
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