al, too little _esprit_. But thou, Max, art almost as bad. Thy
temper is a devil's, which maybe is worse than an animal's. Ah, this
Woodhouse, a curse is on it, I know it is. Would we were away from it.
Will the week never pass? We shall have to find Ciccio. Without him the
company is ruined--until I get a substitute. I must get a substitute.
And how?--and where?--in this country?--tell me that. I am tired of
Natcha-Kee-Tawara. There is no true tribe of Kishwe--no, never. I have
had enough of Natcha-Kee-Tawara. Let us break up, let us part, _mes
braves_, let us say adieu here in this _funeste_ Woodhouse."

"Oh, Madame, dear Madame," said Louis, "let us hope. Let us swear a
closer fidelity, dear Madame, our Kishwegin. Let us never part.
Max, thou dost not want to part, brother, well-loved? Thou dost not
want to part, brother whom I love? And thou, Geoffrey, thou--"

Madame burst into tears, Louis wept too, even Max turned aside his
face, with tears. Alvina stole out of the room, followed by Mr. May.

In a while Madame came out to them.

"Oh," she said. "You have not gone away! We are wondering which way
Ciccio will have gone, on to Knarborough or to Marchay. Geoffrey
will go on his bicycle to find him. But shall it be to Knarborough
or to Marchay?"

"Ask the policeman in the market-place," said Alvina. "He's sure to
have noticed him, because Ciccio's yellow bicycle is so uncommon."

Mr. May tripped out on this errand, while the others discussed among
themselves where Ciccio might be.

Mr. May returned, and said that Ciccio had ridden off down the
Knarborough Road. It was raining slightly.

"Ah!" said Madame. "And now how to find him, in that great town. I
am afraid he will leave us without pity."

"Surely he will want to speak to Geoffrey before he goes," said
Louis. "They were always good friends."

They all looked at Geoffrey. He shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Always good friends," he said. "Yes. He will perhaps wait for me at
his cousin's in Battersea. In Knarborough, I don't know."

"How much money had he?" asked Mr. May.

Madame spread her hands and lifted her shoulders.

"Who knows?" she said.

"These Italians," said Louis, turning to Mr. May. "They have always
money. In another country, they will not spend one sou if they can
help. They are like this--" And he made the Neapolitan gesture
drawing in the air with his fingers.

"But would he abandon you all without a word?" cried Mr. May.

"Yes!