'HOTEL SOLE D'ORO,
'RIVA, AUSTRIA.

'DEAR NAN: Who in thunder is Constance Wilder? She wants us to stop
and make a visit in Valedolmo. I wouldn't step into that infernal
town, not if the king himself invited me--it's the deadest hole on
the face of the earth. You can stay if you like and I'll go on
through the Dolomites alone. There's an American family stopping
here who are also planning the trip--a stunning girl; I know you'd
like her.

'Of course the travelling will be pretty rough. Perhaps you and
Aunt Kate would rather visit your friends and meet me later in
Munich. If you decide to take the trip, you will have to come on
down to Riva as soon as you get this letter, as we're planning to
pull out Thursday morning.

'Sorry to hurry you, but you know my vacation doesn't last for
ever.

'Love to Aunt Kate and yourself,

'Yours ever,
'JERRY.'

He turned the letters over to Gustavo with a five-franc note, leaving
Gustavo to decide with his own conscience whether the money was intended
for himself or the steward of the _Regina Margarita_. This accomplished,
he slipped out unobtrusively and took the road toward Villa Rosa.

He strode along with his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the path
until he nearly bumped his nose against the villa gate-post. Then he
stopped and thought. He had no mind to be ushered to the terrace, where
he would have to dissemble some excuse for his visit before Miss Hazel
and Mr. Wilder. His business to-night was with Constance, and Constance
alone. He turned and skirted the villa wall, determined on reconnoitring
first. There was a place in the wall--he knew well--where the stones were
missing, and a view was obtainable of the terrace and parapet.

He reached the place to find Lieutenant Carlo di Ferara already there.
Now the Lieutenant's purpose was exactly as innocent as Tony's own; he
merely wished to assure himself that Captain Coroloni was not before him.
It was considered a joke at the tenth cavalry mess to detail one or the
other of the officers to call on the Americans at the same time that
Lieutenant di Ferara called. He was not spying on the family, merely on
his meddling brother officers.

Tony of course could know nothing of this, and as his ey