hich will not be at all agreeable. I would to Heaven that she had sung
under any window but mine."

"All right. Kitty doesn't wish to meet us. So we'll light out for Venice
in the morning. I'm not going to be made a fool of for the best woman
alive."

"There is still the Campo Formosa. If they return to Venice, and
doubtless they will, for I believe they came here to replenish their
purses, we'll hunt up the Campo and make inquiries. It is not anarchism.
Anarchists always need money, and they wouldn't let me slip through
their fingers, once having taken hold of my curiosity in this way. You
may be sure it is something deeper than that. Anarchism wouldn't
interest a sensible little woman like Kitty."

"You never can tell what will interest a woman," said Merrihew owlishly.

"There's truth in that. But Kitty isn't romantic; she has her bump of
caution."

"I agree to that. She refused me."

They both laughed quietly.

"Well, if nothing happens in Venice, we'll go to Verona, buy a pair of
good saddle-horses, and take the road to Florence. That will be
something worth while. And it will clear this romantic fog out of our
heads."

"That's the most sensible thing you've said in a long time," said
Merrihew, brightening considerably. "A leg up and a couple of hundred
miles of these great roads! You've hit it squarely, by George! And out
of my winnings we can buy ripping hunters. The American Comic Opera
Company be hanged! But I'd give half of my winnings if I knew what was
at the bottom of it all. Seems as if fate were moving us round for a
pastime. We have probably passed and repassed the two women a dozen
times."

"And but for those cigars--"

"Will you kindly forget that?"

"If you insist upon it."

"Thanks. We came over to see Italy; let's see it. Now, I'm for turning
in. A bit headachey; infernally hot in the roulette room."

In truth, all the enthusiasm was gone from Merrihew's heart. Since Kitty
evinced a desire to avoid him, the world grew charmless; and the fortune
of Midas, cast at his feet, would not have warmed him. On the way over
to the hotel, however, he whistled bravely and jingled the golden
largess in his pockets. He bade good night to Hillard and sought his
room. Here he emptied his pockets on the table and built a shelving
house of gold. He sat down and began to count. Clink-clink! Clink-clink!
What a pleasant sound it was, to be sure. It was sweeter than woman's
laughter. And what symphony