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You must know at your age, Gustavo, that a man can't enjoy a view by himself; it takes two for that sort of thing. Yes, the truth is that I am lonely. You can see yourself to what straits I am pushed for conversation. If I had your command of language, now, I would talk to the German Alpine climbers. An idea flashed over Gustavo's features. 'Ah, zat is it! Why does not ze signore climb mountains?
It seems to me there might be an opening for a likely young fellow speaking the English language, even if he hasn't a uniform and sword. How does he strike you? 'Si, signore. 'I'm glad you agree with me. It is now five minutes past four; do you think the American family would be taking a siesta? 'I do not know, signore. Gustavo's tone was still patient.
Not all of it? 'Every word. 'How could you? There was reproach in her accent. 'It did come hard; I'm a little out of practice. 'Did you tell her about about me? 'I had to, Constance. When it came to the necessity of squaring all of Gustavo's yarns, my imagination gave out. Anyway, I had to tell her out of self-defence; she was so superior.
The young man rose and bowed; Constance nodded carelessly, while Gustavo behind her back made frantic signs for him to flee, to escape while still there was time. The young man telegraphed back by the same sign language that there was no danger; she didn't suspect the truth. And to Gustavo's amazement, he fell in beside them and strolled over to the water-steps.
Her eyes lighted on the arbour hung with grape-vines and wistaria, where, far at the other end, Gustavo's figure was visible lounging in the yellow stucco doorway. The sight appeared to recall an errand to her mind. She glanced down at a pink wicker-basket which hung on her arm, and gathered up her skirts with a movement of departure. The young man hastily picked up the conversation.
That young man's name is no more Abraham Lincoln than Victor Emmanuel II. When did he write that, and why? Gustavo's eyes were on the lira; he broke down and told the truth. 'Yesterday night, signorina. He say, "Ze next time zat Signorina Americana who is beautiful as ze angels come to zis hotel she look in ze raygeester, an' I haf it feex ready." 'Oh, he said that, did he? 'Si, signorina.
'I do not think you grasp my question. An aunt the sister of your father, or perhaps your mother. A gleam of illumination swept over Gustavo's troubled features. 'Ecco! You would know if I haf a zia a aunt yes, zat is it. A aunt. Sicuramente, signore, I haf ten leven aunt. 'Eleven aunts! Before such a tragedy I am speechless; you need say no more, Gustavo, from this moment we are friends.
As they neared the end of the arbour, Gustavo was talking shouting fairly; their approach was heralded. They turned into the grove. To Gustavo's horror the most conspicuous object in it was this same reckless young man, seated on the water-wall nonchalantly smoking a cigarette.
She gave the note to Giuseppe with instructions to place it in Gustavo's hands, and then settled herself gaily to await results. Giuseppe was barely out of sight when the two Alpine climbers appeared at the gate. Constance had been wondering how she could inform Tony that his aunt and sister had arrived, without unbending from the dignified silence of the past three days.
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.