t the girl was out of hearing, a number of pointed things occurred
to him which he might have said. His thoughts were interrupted by a fresh
giggle from behind and he found that the three washer-girls were laughing
at him.

"Your mistress's manners are not the best in the world," said he,
severely, "and I am obliged to add that yours are no better."

They giggled again, though there was no malice behind their humor; it was
merely that they found the lack of a language in common a mirth-provoking
circumstance. Marietta, with a flash of black eyes, murmured something
very kindly in Italian, as she shook out a linen sailor suit--the exact
twin of the one that had gone to sea--and spread it on the wall to dry.

The young man did not linger for further words. Setting his hat firmly on
his head, he vaulted the parapet and strode off down the cypress alley
that stretched before him; he passed the pink villa without a glance. At
the gate he stood aside to admit a horse and rider. The horse was
prancing in spite of the heat; the rider wore a uniform and a shining
sword. There was a clank of accoutrements as he passed, and the wayfarer
caught a gleam of piercing black eyes and a slight black moustache turned
up at the ends. The rider saluted politely and indifferently, and jangled
on. The young man scowled after him maliciously until the cypresses hid
him from view; then he turned and took up the dusty road back towards the
Hotel du Lac.

It was close upon five, and Gustavo was in the court-yard feeding the
parrot, when his eye fell upon the American guest scuffling down the road
in a cloud of white dust. Gustavo hastened to the gate to welcome him
back, his very eyebrows expressive of his eagerness for news.

"You are returned, signore?"

The young man paused and regarded him unemotionally.

"Yes, Gustavo, I am returned--with thanks."

"You have seen ze Signorina Costantina?"

"Yes, I saw her."

"And is it not as I have said, zat she is beautiful as ze holy angels?"

"Yes, Gustavo, she is--and just about equally remote. You may make out my
bill."

The waiter's face clouded.

"You do not wish to remain longer, signore?"

"Can't stand it, Gustavo; it's too infernally restful."

Poor Gustavo saw a munificent shower of tips vanishing into nothing. His
face was rueful but his manner was undiminishingly polite.

"_Si_, signore, sank you. When shall you wish ze omnibus?"

"Tomorrow morning for the first boat."

Gu