CHAPTER XVI
Tony jumped over the wall. He might have landed in the midst of a familyparty; but in so much luck was with him. He found the _Farfalla_ bobbingat the foot of the water-steps with Mr. Wilder and Miss Hazel alreadyembarked. They were waiting for Constance, who had obligingly run back tothe house to fetch the rainbow shawl (finished that afternoon) as MissHazel distrusted the Italian night breeze.
Constance stepped out from the door as Tony emerged from the bushes. Sheregarded him in startled surprise; he was still in some slight disarrayfrom his encounter with the lieutenant.
'May I speak to you, Miss Wilder? I won't detain you but a moment.'
She nodded and kept on, her heart thumping absurdly. He had received theletter, of course; and there would be consequences. She paused at the topof the water-steps.
'You go on,' she called to the others, and pick me up on your way back.Tony wants to see me about something, and I don't like to keep Mrs.Eustace and Nannie waiting.'
Giuseppe pushed off and Constance was left standing alone on thewater-steps. She turned as Tony approached; there was a touch of defiancein her manner.
'Well?'
He came to her side and leaned carelessly against the parapet, his eyeson the _Farfalla_ as she tossed and dipped in the wash of the _ReginaMargarita_ which was just puffing out from the village landing. Constancewatched him, slightly taken aback; she had expected him to be angry,sulky, reproachful--certainly not nonchalant. When he finally brought hiseyes from the water, his expression was mildly melancholy.
'Signorina, I have come to say good-bye. It is very sad, but to-morrow, Itoo'--he waved his hand toward the steamer--'shall be a passenger.'
'You are going away from Valedolmo?'
He nodded.
'Unfortunately, yes. I should like to stay, but'--he shrugged--'lifeisn't all play, Miss Wilder. Though one would like to be a donkey-man forever, one only may be for a summer's holiday. I am your debtor for aunique and pleasant experience.'
She studied his face without speaking. Did it mean that he had got theletter and was hurt, or did it perhaps mean that he had got the letterand did not care to appear as Jerry Junior? That he enjoyed the play solong as he could remain incognito and stop it where he pleased, but thathe had no mind to let it drift into reality? Very possibly it meant--sheflushed at the thought--that he divined Nannie's plot, and refused alsoto consider the fourth candidate.
She laughed and dropped into their usual jargon.
'And the young American man, Signor Abraham Lincoln, will he cometo-morrow for tea?'
'Ah, signorina, he is desolated, but it is not possible. He has receiveda letter and he must go; he has stopped too long in Valedolmo. To-morrowmorning early, he and I togever, we sail away to Austria.'
His eyes went back to the trail of smoke left by the little steamer.
'And Costantina, Tony. You are leaving her behind?' It took some courageto put this question, but she did not flinch; she put it with a laughwhich contained nothing but raillery.
Tony sighed--a deep melodramatic sigh--and laid his hand on his heart.
'Ah, signorina, zat Costantina, she has not any heart. She love one manone day, anozzer ze next. I go away to forget.'
His eyes dropped to hers; for an instant the mocking light died out; aquestioning wounded look took its place.
She felt a quick impulse to hold out her hands, to say, 'Jerry, don't go!'If she only knew! Was he going because he thought that she wished todismiss him, or because he wished to dismiss himself? Was it pique thatbade him carry the play to the end, or was it merely the desire to getout of an awkward situation gracefully?
She stood hesitating, scanning the terrace pavement with troubled eyes;when she raised them to his face the chance was gone. He straightened hisshoulders with an air of finality and picked up his hat from thebalustrade.
'Some day, signorina, in New York, perhaps I play a little tune underneafyour window.'
She nodded and smiled.
'I will give the monkey a penny when he comes--good-bye.'
He bowed over her hand and touched it lightly to his lips.
'Signorina, _addio_!'
As he strode away into the dusky lane of cypresses, she heard himwhistling softly 'Santa Lucia.' It was the last stroke, she reflectedangrily; he might at least have omitted that! She turned away and droppeddown on the water-steps to wait for the _Farfalla_. The terrace, thelake, the beautiful Italian night, suddenly seemed deserted and empty.Before she knew it was coming, she had leaned her head against thebalustrade with a deep sob. She caught herself sharply. She to sit therecrying, while Tony went whistling on his way!
* * * * *
As the _Farfalla_ drifted idly over the water, Constance sat in thestern, her chin in her hand, moodily gazing at the shimmering path ofmoonlight. But no one appeared to notice her silence, since Nannie wastalking enough for both. And the only thing she talked about was JerryJunior, how funny and clever and charming he was, how phenomenallygood--for a man; when she showed signs of stopping, Mr. Wilder by aquestion started her on. It seemed to Constance an interminable two hoursbefore they dropped their guests in the garden of the Hotel du Lac, andheaded again for Villa Rosa.
As they approached their own water-steps it became apparent that someone--a man--was standing at the top in an attitude of expectancy.Constance's heart gave a sudden bound and the next instant sank deep. Ababble of frenzied greetings floated out to meet them; there was nomistaking Gustavo. Moreover, there was no mistaking the fact that he wasexcited; his excitement was contagious even before they had learned thereason. He stuttered in his impatience to share the news.
'Signore! _Dio mio_! A calamity has happened. Zat Tony, zat donk'-man! hehas got hisself arrested. Zay say it is a lie, zat he is Americancitizen; he is an officer who is dessert from ze Italian army. Zay say hejust pretend he cannot spik Italian--but it is not true. He knowten--leven words.'
They came hurrying up the steps and surrounded him, Mr. Wilder no lessshocked than Gustavo himself.
'Arrested--as a deserter? It's an outrage!' he thundered.
Constance laid her hand on Gustavo's sleeve and whirled him about.
'What do you mean? I don't understand. Where is Tony?'
Gustavo groaned.
'In jail, signorina. Four carabinieri are come to take him away. And hefight--_Dio mio_! he fight like ze devil. But zay put--' he indicatedhandcuffs--'and he go.'
Constance dropped down on the upper step, and leaning her head againstthe balustrade, she laughed until she was weak.
Her father whirled upon her indignantly.
'Constance! Haven't you any sympathy for the man? This isn't a laughingmatter.'
'I know, Dad, but it's so funny--Tony an Italian officer! He can'tpronounce the ten--'leven words he does know right.'
'Of course he can't; he doesn't know as much Italian as I do. Can't thesefools tell an American citizen when they see one? I'll teach 'em to goabout chucking American citizens in jail. I'll telegraph the consul inMilan; I'll make an international matter of it!'
He fumed up and down the terrace, while Constance rose to her feet andfollowed after with a pretence at pacification.
'Hush, Dad! Don't be so excitable. It was a very natural mistake for themto make. But if Tony is really what he says he is it will be very easilyproved. You must be sure of your ground, though, before you act. I don'tlike to say anything against poor Tony now that he is in trouble, but Ihave always felt that there was a mystery connected with him. For all weknow he may be a murderer or a brigand or an escaped convict in disguise.We only have his word, you know, that he is an American citizen.'
'His word!' Mr. Wilder fairly exploded. 'Are you utterly blind? He'sexactly as much an American citizen as I am. He's----' He stopped andfanned himself furiously. He had sworn never to betray Tony's secret, andyet, the present situation was exceptional.
Constance patted him on the arm. 'There, Dad. I haven't a dou
bt his storyis true. He was born in Budapest, and he's a naturalized Americancitizen. It's the duty of the United States Government to protecthim--but it won't be difficult; I dare say he's got his naturalizationpapers with him. A word in the morning will set everything straight.'
'Leave him in jail all night?'
'But you can't do anything now; it's after ten o'clock; the authoritieshave gone to bed.'
She turned to Gustavo; her tone was reassuring.
'In the morning we'll get some American warships to bombard the jail.'
'Signorina, you joke!' His tone was reproachful.
She suddenly looked anxious. 'Gustavo, is the jail strong?'
'Ver' strong, signorina.'
'He can't escape and get over into Austria? We are very near thefrontier, you know.'
'No, signorina, it is impossible.' He shook his head hopelessly.
Constance laughed and slipped her hand through her father's arm.
'Come, Dad. The first thing in the morning we'll go down to the jail andcheer him up. There's not the slightest use in worrying any moreto-night. It won't hurt Tony to be kept in--er--cold storage for a fewhours--I think on the whole it will do him good!'
She nodded dismissal to Gustavo, and drew her father, still muttering,toward the house.