ira--"if he asks you if I looked in this
register, what are you going to say?"

"I say, 'no, Meestair Ailyar, she stay all ze time in ze courtyard
talking wif ze parrot, and she was ver' moch shocked at his Angleesh'."

"Ah!" Constance smiled and laid the lira on the table. "Gustavo," she
said, "I hope, for the sake of your immortal soul, that you go often to
confession."

The eggs were not heavy, but Gustavo insisted upon carrying them; he was
determined to see her safely aboard the _Farfalla_, with no further
accidents possible. That she had not identified the young man of the
garden with the donkey-driver of yesterday was clear--though how such
blindness was possible, was not clear. Probably she had only caught a
glimpse of his back at a distance; in any case he thanked a merciful
Providence and decided to risk no further chance. As they neared the end
of the arbor, Gustavo was talking--shouting fairly; their approach was
heralded.

They turned into the grove. To Gustavo's horror the most conspicuous
object in it was this same reckless young man, seated on the water-wall
nonchalantly smoking a cigarette. The young man rose and bowed; Constance
nodded carelessly, while Gustavo behind her back made frantic signs for
him to flee, to escape while still there was time. The young man
telegraphed back by the same sign language that there was no danger; she
didn't suspect the truth. And to Gustavo's amazement, he fell in beside
them and strolled over to the water steps. His recklessness was catching;
Gustavo suddenly determined upon a bold stroke himself.

"Signorina," he asked, "zat man I send, zat donk' driver--you like
heem?"

"Tony?" Her manner was indifferent. "Oh, he does well enough; he seems
honest and truthful, though a little stupid."

Gustavo and the young man exchanged glances.

"And Gustavo," she turned to him with a sweetly serious air that admitted
no manner of doubt but that she was in earnest. "I told this young man
that in case he cared to do any mountain climbing, you would find him the
same guide. It would be very useful for him to have one who speaks
English."

Gustavo bowed in mute acquiescence. He could find no adequate words for
the situation.

The boat drew alongside and Constance stepped in, but she did not sit
down. Her attention was attracted by two washer-women who had come
clattering on to the little rustic bridge that spanned the stream above
the water steps. The women, their baske