like that."

"You are a clever boy, Paolo."

He tied the knot again, unhooked the lantern; jumped out of the boat,
and lighted her up the staircase to a heavy wooden door. In another
moment she stood on the piazza close to the waterfall. The cold spray
from it fell on her face. He pushed the door to, but did not lock it.

"You leave it like that at night?" she asked.

"Non, signora. Before I go to bed I lock it."

"I see."

She saw a key sticking out from the door.

"_A rivederci_, Paolo."

"_A rivederci_, signora."

He took off his hat and went swiftly away. The light of the lantern
danced on the pavement of the piazza, and, for one instant, on the white
foam of the water falling between the cypresses.

When Viola was alone on the piazza she went to the stone balustrade and
looked over it at the lake. Was there a boat close by? She could not see
it. The chiming bells of the fishermen came up to her, mingling with the
noise of the cascade. She took out her watch and held it up close to
her eyes. The hour was half-past nine. She wondered what time Italian
servants went to bed.

The butler came out and begged to know if she would not eat something.
He seemed so distressed at her having missed dinner, that she went into
the house, sat down at the dining table and made a pretence of eating. A
clock struck ten as she finished.

"It is so warm that I am going to sit out in the piazza," she said.

"Will the signora take coffee?"

"No--yes, bring me some there. And tell my maid--tell the servants they
needn't sit up. I may stay out quite late. If I do, I'll lock the door
on to the piazza when I go in."

"Si, signora."

When she reached the piazza she saw a shining red spark just above
the balustrade. Paolo was there smoking a black cigar and leaning over
sideways.

"What are you looking for?" she asked.

"That boat, signora. It has not gone."

"How do you know? It may have gone when we were in the boat-house."

He shook his head.

"You could not have heard the oars through the noise of the waterfall."

"Si, signora. It has not gone. Shall I take the boat and--"

"No, no," she interrupted quickly. "What does it matter? Go and have
supper."

"I have had it, signora."

"Then, when you have finished smoking, you'd better go to bed."

She forced herself to smile lightly.

"Boys like you need plenty of sleep."

"Four hours is enough, signora."

"No, no. You should go to bed early."

She saw a