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She had promised Spencer to walk with him to the château; but her visit to Millicent had intervened, and he was not on the veranda at the moment. "We need not go far. The sun has garnished the roads for us. What do you say if we make for the village, and interview Johann Klucker's cat on the weather?" His tone was quite reassuring.
"Klucker's chalet is near the waterfall, which should be a fine sight owing to the melting snow." It was Helen's favorite walk. She would have preferred a more frequented route; but the group of houses described by the boy was quite near, and she could devise no excuse for keeping to the busy highway. As the path was narrow she walked in front.
A cat hates wind and rain, and makes her arrangements accordingly. If she washes herself smoothly, the next twelve hours will be fine. If she licks against the grain, it will be wet. When she lies with her back to the fire, there will surely be a squall. When her tail is up and her coat rises, look out for wind." "Johann Klucker's cat has settled the dispute," said Bower gravely in English.
"Who is Kennett?" she said. "One of my confidential clerks." "And Pargrave?" "The proprietor of 'The Firefly." "Did Millicent know of this plot?" "Yes." Then she murmured a broken prayer. "Ah, dear Heaven!" she complained, "for what am I punished so bitterly?" Karl, the voluble and sharp-eyed, retailed a bit of gossip to Stampa that evening as they smoked in Johann Klucker's chalet.
"I fear she brought winter in her train," was Bower's comment. "But the famous cat must decide. Here, boy," he went on, hailing a village urchin, "where is Johann Klucker's house?" The boy pointed to a track that ran close to the right bank of the tiny Inn. He explained volubly, and was rewarded with a franc. "Do you know this path?" asked Bower.
Perhaps the American meant to enlighten her during their projected walk to Vicosoprano. Stampa and the others approached. Together they climbed the little hill leading to the summit of the pass. In the village they said "Good night" to the two guides and Karl. Helen promised laughingly to make the acquaintance of Johann Klucker's cat at the first opportunity.
"Moreover," broke in Karl, who refused to be left out of the conversation, "Johann Klucker's cat was sitting with its back to the stove last evening." This bit of homely philosophy brought a ripple of laughter from Helen, whereupon Karl explained. "Cats are very wise, fräulein. Johann Klucker's cat is old. Therefore she is skilled in reading the tokens of the weather.
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