wif Lieutenant Count Carlo di Ferara.'

'It is the custom in Italy.'

'We are in Italy.'

'Behave yourself, Tony, and run along home!'

She laughed and nodded and turned away. On the steps she paused to add--

'Be sure not to forget the message for Signor Abraham Lincoln. I shall be
disappointed if he doesn't come.'

CHAPTER XV

Tony returned to the Hotel du Lac, modestly, by the back way. He
assured himself that his aunt and sister were well by means of an open
window in the rear of the dining-room. The window was shaded by a clump
of camellias, and he studied at his ease the back of Mrs. Eustace's
head and Nannie's vivacious profile as she talked in fluent and
execrable German to the two Alpinists who were, at the moment, the only
other guests. Brotherly affection--and a humorous desire to create a
sensation--prompted him to walk in and surprise them. But saner second
thoughts prevailed; he decided to postpone the reunion until he should
have changed from the picturesque costume of Tony to the soberer garb of
Jerry Junior. He skirted the dining-room by a wide detour, and entered
the courtyard at the side. Gustavo, who for the last hour and a half had
been alertly watchful of four entrances at once, pounced upon him and
drew him to a corner.

'Signore,' in a conspiratorial whisper, 'zay are come, ze aunt and ze
sister.'

'I know--the Signorina Costantina told me so.'

Gustavo blinked.

'But, signore, she does not know it.'

'Yes, she does--she saw 'em herself.'

'I mean, signore, she does not know zat you are ze brover?'

'Oh, no, she doesn't know that.'

'But she tell me zat she is acquaint wif ze brover for six years.' He
shook his head hopelessly.

'That's all right.' Tony patted his shoulder reassuringly. 'When she knew
me I used to have yellow hair, but I thought it made me look too girlish,
so I had it dyed black. She didn't recognize me.'

Gustavo accepted the explanation with a side-glance at the hair.

'Now, pay attention.' Tony's tone was slow and distinct.

'I am going upstairs to change my clothes. Then I will slip out the back
way with a suit-case, and go down the road and meet the omnibus as it
comes back from the boat landing. You keep my aunt and sister in the
courtyard talking to the parrot or something until the omnibus arrives.
Then when I get out, you come forward with your politest bow and ask me
if I want a room. I'll attend to the rest--do you understand?'

Gust