d not understand,
so he wired him an address in Genoa, and the "Flitter" was made ready
for sea. Steam had been kept up, and her coal account would compare
favorably with that of an ocean liner. Philippe was breathless with joy
when he was paid in advance for another month at the hotel, on the
assumption that the party might be moved to return at any moment. The
little town was gay at parting and Brewster and his guests were given a
royal farewell.

At Genoa the mail had accumulated and held the attention of the yacht
to the exclusion of everything else. Brewster was somewhat crestfallen
to learn that the lady of the villa haughtily refused his princely
offer. He won the life-long devotion of his courier by promptly
increasing it to one hundred thousand francs. When this too met with
rejection, there was a pause and a serious consultation between the two.

"Bertier," exclaimed Brewster, "I must have the thing now. What's to be
done? You've got to help me out."

But the courier, prodigal as he was of gestures, had no words which
seemed pertinent.

"There must be some way of getting at this marquise," Monty continued
reflectively. "What are her tastes? Do you know anything about her?"

Suddenly the face of the courier grew bright. "I have it," he said, and
then he faltered. "But the expense, monsieur--it would be heavy."

"Perhaps we can meet it," suggested Monty, quietly. "What's the idea?"

It was explained, with plenty of action to make it clear. The courier
had heard in Florence that madame la marquise had a passion for
automobiles. But with her inadequate fortune and the many demands upon
it, it was a weakness not readily gratified. The machine she had used
during the winter was by no means up-to-date. Possibly if Monsieur--yet
it was too much--no villa--

But Brewster's decision was made. "Wire the fellow," he said, "that I
will add to my last offer a French machine of the latest model and the
best make. Say, too, that I would like immediate possession."

He secured it, and the crowd was transferred at once to fairyland.
There were protests, of course, but these Brewster had grown to expect
and he was learning to carry things with a high hand. The travelers had
been preceded by Bertier, and the greeting they received from the
steward of the estate and his innumerable assistants was very Italian
and full of color. A break in their monotony was welcome.

The loveliness of the villa and its grounds, which sl