Part 22 (2/2)

'I will give the monkey a penny when he comes--good-bye.'

He bowed over her hand and touched it lightly to his lips.

'Signorina, _addio_!'

As he strode away into the dusky lane of cypresses, she heard him whistling softly 'Santa Lucia.' It was the last stroke, she reflected angrily; he might at least have omitted that! She turned away and dropped down on the water-steps to wait for the _Farfalla_. The terrace, the lake, the beautiful Italian night, suddenly seemed deserted and empty.

Before she knew it was coming, she had leaned her head against the bal.u.s.trade with a deep sob. She caught herself sharply. She to sit there crying, while Tony went whistling on his way!

As the _Farfalla_ drifted idly over the water, Constance sat in the stern, her chin in her hand, moodily gazing at the s.h.i.+mmering path of moonlight. But no one appeared to notice her silence, since Nannie was talking enough for both. And the only thing she talked about was Jerry Junior, how funny and clever and charming he was, how phenomenally good--for a man; when she showed signs of stopping, Mr. Wilder by a question started her on. It seemed to Constance an interminable two hours before they dropped their guests in the garden of the Hotel du Lac, and headed again for Villa Rosa.

As they approached their own water-steps it became apparent that some one--a man--was standing at the top in an att.i.tude of expectancy.

Constance's heart gave a sudden bound and the next instant sank deep. A babble of frenzied greetings floated out to meet them; there was no mistaking Gustavo. Moreover, there was no mistaking the fact that he was excited; his excitement was contagious even before they had learned the reason. He stuttered in his impatience to share the news.

'Signore! _Dio mio_! A calamity has happened. Zat Tony, zat donk'-man! he has got hisself arrested. Zay say it is a lie, zat he is American citizen; he is an officer who is dessert from ze Italian army. Zay say he just pretend he cannot spik Italian--but it is not true. He know ten--leven words.'

They came hurrying up the steps and surrounded him, Mr. Wilder no less shocked than Gustavo himself.

'Arrested--as a deserter? It's an outrage!' he thundered.

Constance laid her hand on Gustavo's sleeve and whirled him about.

'What do you mean? I don't understand. Where is Tony?'

Gustavo groaned.

'In jail, signorina. Four carabinieri are come to take him away. And he fight--_Dio mio_! he fight like ze devil. But zay put--' he indicated handcuffs--'and he go.'

Constance dropped down on the upper step, and leaning her head against the bal.u.s.trade, she laughed until she was weak.

Her father whirled upon her indignantly.

'Constance! Haven't you any sympathy for the man? This isn't a laughing matter.'

'I know, Dad, but it's so funny--Tony an Italian officer! He can't p.r.o.nounce the ten--'leven words he does know right.'

'Of course he can't; he doesn't know as much Italian as I do. Can't these fools tell an American citizen when they see one? I'll teach 'em to go about chucking American citizens in jail. I'll telegraph the consul in Milan; I'll make an international matter of it!'

He fumed up and down the terrace, while Constance rose to her feet and followed after with a pretence at pacification.

'Hush, Dad! Don't be so excitable. It was a very natural mistake for them to make. But if Tony is really what he says he is it will be very easily proved. You must be sure of your ground, though, before you act. I don't like to say anything against poor Tony now that he is in trouble, but I have always felt that there was a mystery connected with him. For all we know he may be a murderer or a brigand or an escaped convict in disguise.

We only have his word, you know, that he is an American citizen.'

'His word!' Mr. Wilder fairly exploded. 'Are you utterly blind? He's exactly as much an American citizen as I am. He's----' He stopped and fanned himself furiously. He had sworn never to betray Tony's secret, and yet, the present situation was exceptional.

Constance patted him on the arm. 'There, Dad. I haven't a doubt his story is true. He was born in Budapest, and he's a naturalized American citizen. It's the duty of the United States Government to protect him--but it won't be difficult; I dare say he's got his naturalization papers with him. A word in the morning will set everything straight.'

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