g. It was a rare moment to
him at night to strike Smith dumb by asking in Italian for a match, a
cigar, or a book. Smith wondered how he did it; but when asked to join
the primary class at the porter's lodge, he always excused himself by
saying that he was deep in the writing of a comedy, which was true. If
there was a play in one's system, the Villa Ariadne was sure to bring it
out.

Having finished the lesson for that day, they shared the flask of wine.

"It is old, Pietro," said O'Mally.

"_Vecchio, anticato_," responded Pietro with grave satisfaction.

"Hold on, now; this is no lesson. You talk English. Now about this guide
business. You will let me be guide if I turn over the profits; that is
agreed?"

"Yes." Pietro wished the flask had been twice as large.

"All right; that's fixed. By the way, Pietro, did you ever see the
princess?"

Pietro looked into the bowl of his pipe. "No; she not come here; never."

"Hum! I should, if I owned a place like this."

"Trouble."

"Trouble? How?"

"I not know. But trouble she come bime-by."

"Rats!" There was not a cloud in the sky, so far as O'Mally could see.
And what trouble could possibly befall them?

"Sh!" said Pietro.

The porter's bell rang loudly.

"Tourists!" whispered O'Mally, sliding off the bench and buttoning up
his coat. "Remember I am the guide; you get the lire."

Surely Pietro understood, but he was nervous, doubting the ability of
this novice to demand the right sum for his labor.

O'Mally settled his cap on straight and went to the gates and opened
them. A party of five Americans stood outside--two men, two women, and a
girl of twelve or fourteen. The whole party wore that eager look, now
familiar to O'Mally, of persons who intended to see everything if they
eventually died for it.

"This is the Villa Ariadne?" asked one of the women. She wore eyeglasses
and had a bitter expression.

"It is," said O'Mally, touching his cap.

"He speaks English!" cried the woman, turning joyfully to the others.
"We wish to see the villa and the park."

"The villa is now occupied, signora," replied O'Mally; "but you are
permitted to see the park and gardens."

"How much?" asked one of the men.

"_Cinquanty_," said O'Mally; then correcting himself, "for each person."

"Ten cents? Two lire fifty? Why, this is downright extortion!" declared
the woman with the eyeglasses. She was vehement, too.

O'Mally gave vent to a perfect Italian shrug, and put