nt for continuing to live at Monte Carlo was to
lunch or dine each day at the Villa Mirasole. On the first morning of
his great happiness he was due there for luncheon at one o'clock, but
having news to tell, he decided to go early. There was little danger of
finding Marie and Angelo out, for they walked after an early breakfast,
and generally spent the rest of the morning in their own garden, or on
the covered loggia of the villa, which looked toward the sea. In the
afternoon they sometimes took excursions in their motor-car, but they
made no social engagements and never went to Monte Carlo, not even to
the opera or concerts. This had struck Vanno as being odd; but soon he
had taken it for granted that they cared for no society except each
other's, which was after all quite natural.

Of late, Vanno's habit had been to dash over to Cap Martin at the last
minute in a taxi and back again in the same hurried way, in order to
give himself as much time as possible in the Casino; but this morning
the Casino had seemed of no more importance to him than the railway
station. It was as the cure had prophesied, for Vanno as for Mary: the
absorbing new interest had pushed out the old, from hearts in which
there was room only for love. The other obsession was gone as if it had
never been, as a cloud which broods darkly over a mountain top is
carried away by a fresh gust of wind, leaving no trace on the mountain
steeped in sunshine.

Instead of lying in bed until time to bathe and dress for the Casino,
Vanno rose early, according to his old custom. It was as if he opened a
neglected book at a page where a marker had been placed, and began to
read again with renewed and increased interest. By nine o'clock he was
at the Villa Bella Vista, asking for Mary, who had promised to see him.
They had arranged that he was to tell Lord and Lady Dauntrey not only of
their engagement, but of Mary's decision to leave their house for a
visit to Mrs. Winter. She, however, had summoned unexpected courage and
had already broken the news. It had seemed treacherous, she explained to
Vanno, to go to bed and say nothing; so on an impulse she had told them
all; and both had been kind.

Lady Dauntrey, who seldom appeared before ten o'clock--Casino opening
time--was not only dressed but had breakfasted when Vanno came. She
broke in upon Mary and the Prince in the drawing-room, seemed surprised
to find them there, apologized laughingly, and with an attempt a