This will not be difficult, as he will
go with me on an excursion to-morrow, now that his--er--engagement
with you is off; and the day after, he and I think of leaving Aix
altogether, by way of Mont Revard."

This plan arranged itself spontaneously; but as the Boy had
ungallantly called Gaeta "a little cat," and I was slightly _blase_ of
her dimples, I thought that I might count upon its being carried out.

"What--he will go away?" exclaimed Paolo, all at once a different man.
"He will leave Aix altogether, you say?"

"Yes. You see, we are on our way south. Mr. Laurence merely wanted a
glance at Aix _en route_, and the Contessa was kind enough to invite
him to her house. It was really nice of her, as he is such a boy."

"You think so? Yes--perhaps. Well, I consent on these terms to forget.
You may tell your principal what I have said."

"I will," I returned. "He will be guided by me, and forget also;
though I assure you, like most of his countrymen, he is a
fire-eater--a fire-eater."

This time it was Paolo who volunteered to shake hands.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXIII

There is No Such Girl

"She has forgotten my kisses, and I--have forgotten her
name."--A.C. SWINBURNE.

I went early in the morning to the villa with the intention of culling
the Boy like a wayside flower, and carrying him off to the lake. The
hour was unearthly for a morning call, and the windows were still
asleep, but I was spared the necessity of raising the echoes with an
untimely peal of the bell. Under the red umbrella lounged the Boy,
reading with the appearance, at least, of nonchalance. For all he
could tell, I might have failed in my mission, and have come to
announce the hour fixed for deadly combat; but he was not even pale.
Indeed, I had never seen him rosier, or brighter-eyed.

I sat down on the rustic seat beside him, and with a glance at the
veiled windows of the villa, I remarked in a low voice, "It's all
right."

"That goes without saying."

"Why?"

"Because you promised."

"Thanks for the compliment. Have you had your _cafe au lait_?"

"No. I got up early, and thought of walking round to your hotel to see
you, but decided I wouldn't."

"I half expected you."

"I didn't want to seem too--importunate. I hoped you'd come here."

"Like a promising child, I've justified your hopes. Let's walk down to
the Grand Port, to a garden restaurant I remember; and over our
coffee, I'll tell you the story o