"Today, Gustavo?" There was audible regret in Constance's tone. "Why is he going?"

"It is not possible for him to stand it, signorina. Valedolmo too dam slow."

"Gustavo! You mustn't say that; it is very, very bad. Nice men don't say it."

Gustavo held his ground.

"_Si_, signorina, zat yong American gentleman say it--dam slow, no _divertimento_."

"He's just about right, Gustavo," Mr. Wilder broke in. "The next time a young American gentleman blunders into the Hotel du Lac you send him around to me."

"_Si_, signore."

Gustavo rolled his eyes toward the signorina; she continued to sip her lemonade.

"I have told him yesterday an American family live at Villa Rosa; he say 'All right, I go call,' but--but I sink maybe you were not at home."

"Oh!" The signorina raised her head in apparent enlightenment. "So that was the young man? Yes, to be sure, he came, but he said he was looking for Prince Sartorio's villa. I am sorry you were away, Father, you would have enjoyed him; his English was excellent.--Did he tell you he saw me, Gustavo?"

"_Si_, signorina, he tell me."

"What did he say? Did he think I was nice?"

Gustavo looked embarra.s.sed.

"I--I no remember, signorina."

She laughed and to his relief changed the subject.

"Those English ladies who are staying here--what do they look like? Are they young?"

Gustavo delivered himself of an inimitable gesture which suggested that the English ladies had entered the bounds of that indefinite period when the subject of age must be politely waived.

"They are tall, signorina, and of a thinness--you would not believe it possible."

"I see! And so the poor young man was bored?"

Gustavo bowed vaguely. He saw no connection.

"He was awfully good-looking," she added with a sigh. "I'm afraid I made a mistake. It would be rather fun, don't you think, Dad, to have an entertaining young American gentleman about?"

"Ump!" he grunted. "I thought you were so immensely satisfied with the officers."

"Oh, I am," she agreed with a shrug which dismissed forever the young American gentleman.

"Well, Gustavo," she added in a business-like tone, "I will tell you why we called. The doctor says the Signor Papa is getting too fat--I don't think he's too fat, do you? He seems to me just comfortably chubby; but anyway, the doctor says he needs exercise, so we're going to begin climbing mountains with nails in our shoes like the Germans. And we're going to begin to-morrow because we've got two English people at the villa who adore mountains. Do you think you can find us a guide and some donkeys? We want a nice, gentle, lady-like donkey for my aunt, and another for the English lady and a third to carry the things--and maybe me, if I get tired. Then we want a man who will twist their tails and make them go; and I am very particular about the man. I want him to be picturesque--there's no use being in Italy if you can't have things picturesque, is there, Gustavo?"

"_Si_, signorina," he bowed and resumed his att.i.tude of strained attention.

"He must have curly hair and black eyes and white teeth and a nice smile; I should like him to wear a red sash and earrings. He must be obliging and cheerful and deferential and speak good Italian--I won't have a man who speaks only dialect. He must play the mandolin and sing Santa Lucia--I believe that's all."

"And I suppose since he is to act as guide he must know the region?" her father mildly suggested.

"Oh, no, that's immaterial; we can always ask our way."

Mr. Wilder grunted, but offered no further suggestion.

"We pay four lire a day and furnish his meals," she added munificently.

"And we shall begin with the castle on Monte Baldo; then when we get very proficient we'll climb Monte Maggiore. Do you understand?"

"Ze signorina desires tree donkeys and a driver at seven o'clock to-morrow morning to climb Monte Baldo?"

"In brief, yes, but _please_ remember the earrings."

Meanwhile a commotion was going on behind them. The hotel omnibus had rumbled into the court yard. A _fachino_ had dragged out a leather trunk, an English hat box and a couple of valises and dumped them on the ground while he ran back for the paste pot and a pile of labels. The two under-waiters, the chamber-maid and the boy who cleaned boots had drifted into the court. It was evident that the American gentleman's departure was imminent.

The luggage was labelled and hoisted to the roof of the omnibus; they all drew up in a line with their eyes on the door; but still the young man did not come. Gustavo, over his shoulder, dispatched a waiter to hunt him up. The waiter returned breathless. The gentleman was nowhere. He had searched the entire house; there was not a trace. Gustavo sent the boot-boy flying down the arbor to search the garden; he was beginning to feel anxious. What if the gentleman in a sudden fit of melancholia had thrown himself into the lake? That would indeed be an unfortunate affair!

Constance rea.s.sured him, and at the same time she arose. It occurred to her suddenly that, since the young man was going, there was nothing to be gained by waiting, and he might think--She picked up her parasol and started for the gate, but Mr. Wilder hung back; he wanted to see the matter out.

"Father," said she reproachfully, "it's embarra.s.sing enough for him to fee all those people without our staying and watching him do it."

"I suppose it is," he acknowledged regretfully, as he resumed his hat and umbrella and palm leaf fan.

She paused for a second in the gateway.

"_Addio_, Gustavo," she called over her shoulder. "_Don't_ forget the earrings."

Gustavo bowed twice and turned back with a dazed air to direct the business in hand. The boot-boy, reappearing, shook his head. No, the gentleman was not to be found in the garden. The omnibus driver leaned from his seat and swore.

_Corpo di Bacco_! Did he think the boat would wait all day for the sake of one pa.s.senger? As it was, they were ten minutes late and would have to gallop every step of the way.

The turmoil of e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n and gesture was approaching a climax; when suddenly, who should come sauntering into the midst of it, but the young American man himself! He paused to light a cigarette, then waved his hand aloft toward his leather belongings.

"Take 'em down, Gustavo. Changed my mind; not going to-day--it's too hot."

Gustavo gasped.

"But, signore, you have paid for your ticket."

"True, Gustavo, but there is no law compelling me to use it. To tell the truth I find that I am fonder of Valedolmo than I had supposed. There is something satisfying about the peace and tranquility of the place--one doesn't realize it till the moment of parting comes. Do you think I can obtain a room for a--well, an indefinite period?"

Gustavo saw a dazzling vista of silver lire stretching into the future.

With an all-inclusive gesture he placed the house, the lake, the surrounding mountains, at the disposal of the American.

"You shall have what you wish, signore. At dis season ze Hotel du Lac--"