oked the other way, because she felt a need of
so doing for a brief space. Her escort strolled placidly at her side,
all his perturbation appearing to have vanished into thin air with the
satisfactory disposal of the English problem. They came to the top of
the street and saw the old town-wall and its towers before them. The sun
was very hot indeed, and the tourists in cabs all had their parasols
raised.

"I think we had better return," she said, pausing in the last patch of
shade.

Von Ibn looked at his watch.

"Yes," he said, "we must; _dejeuner_ is there now."

So they turned down into the town, taking another of the steep, little
streets, so as to vary the scenery of their route. After a little he
spoke again.

"And you are sure that you go Monday?"

"Yes, indeed."

"To Zurich, and then to where?"

"Then to Constance."

"And then?"

"I do not know where we shall go next."

He started slightly, and a fresh cloud overspread his face.

"Much pleasure to you," he said, almost savagely.

She looked up quickly, surprised at his tone, but her answer was spoken
pleasantly enough.

"Thank you; and the same to you--all summer long."

In response he shrugged his shoulders so fiercely as to force her to
notice the movement.

"Why do you shrug your shoulders like that?" she demanded.

"I am amused."

"You don't look amused."

He raised his eyebrows.

"I am amused to see that all women are the same; I have that thought
just now."

"Are you in the habit of shrugging your shoulders whenever that thought
occurs to you?"

He tossed his head to one side.

"Women are all the same," he repeated impatiently.

"In what way?"

"They can never tell the truth!"

"What makes you say that?"

"You."

"I?"

"Yes."

She felt very nearly vexed.

"Please explain," she commanded.

He simply gave another shrug.

She decided to keep her temper.

"I might be clever enough to read minds," she said mildly, "and still be
dense about divining shoulders; I confess I miss the point that you're
trying to make with yours."

He was silent.

She glanced sideways at him and was thoroughly startled at the black
humor displayed in his countenance.

"What is really the matter?" she asked, anxiously.

"Nothing."

She gave him another quick look, and saw that he saw her look and
avoided it. Then she was angry at such poor taste displayed in the first
hour of a new acquaintance, and almost thought of turning fr