'Indeed--what is he like?'

'Nice--ver' nice.' (Gustavo might well say that; his pockets were lined
with the American gentleman's silver lire.) 'He talk to me always.
"Gustavo," he say, "I am all alone; I wish to be 'mused. Come and talk
Angleesh." Yes, it is true; I have no time to finish my work; I spend
whole day talking wif dis yong American gentleman. He is just a
little----' He touched his head significantly.

'Really?' She raised her eyes with an air of awakened interest. 'And how
did he happen to come to Valedolmo?'

'He come to meet his family, his sister and his--his aunt, who are going
wif him to ze Tyrollo. But zay have not arrive. Zey are in Lucerne, he
says, where zer is a lion dying, and zey wish to wait until he is dead;
zen zey come.--Yes, it is true; he tell me zat.' Gustavo tapped his head
a second time.

The signorina glanced about apprehensively.

'Is he safe, Gustavo--to be about?'

'_Si_, signorina, _sicuramente_! He is just a little simple.'

Mr. Wilder chuckled.

'Where is he, Gustavo? I think I'd like to make that young man's
acquaintance.'

'I sink, signore, he is packing his trunk. He go away to-day.'

'To-day, Gustavo?' There was audible regret in Constance's tone. 'Why is
he going?'

'It is not possible for him to stand it, signorina. Valedolmo too dam
slow.'

'Gustavo! You mustn't say that; it is very, very bad. Nice men don't say
it.'

Gustavo held his ground.

'_Si_, signorina, zat yong American gentleman say it--dam slow, no
_divertimento_.'

'He's just about right, Gustavo,' Mr. Wilder broke in. 'The next time a
young American gentleman blunders into the Hotel du Lac you send him
around to me.'

'_Si_, signore.'

Gustavo rolled his eyes toward the signorina; she continued to sip her
lemonade.

'I have told him yesterday an American family live at Villa Rosa; he say,
"All right, I go call," but--but I sink maybe you were not at home.'

'Oh!' The signorina raised her head in apparent enlightenment. 'So that
was the young man? Yes, to be sure, he came, but he said he was looking
for Prince Sartorio's villa. I am sorry you were away, father, you would
have enjoyed him; his English was excellent.--Did he tell you he saw me,
Gustavo?'

'_Si_, signorina, he tell me.'

'What did he say? Did he think I was nice?'

Gustavo looked embarrassed.

'I--I no remember, signorina.'

She laughed and to his relief changed the subject.

'Those English ladies who are s