“He can’t think anything about me, Snippy, except what you tell him. So tell him I’m a lovely lady,—a duchess, disguised as an American.”
“He’d never take you for a duchess, Patty,” said Flo; “tell him I’m a duchess, Snip, and that this other young woman is my maid.”
“I’ll tell him nothing; I’m ashamed of your foolishness, Miss Flo.” And Snippy proceeded to eat her luncheon with such a dragon-like air that the Italian soldier wondered what he had done to deserve reproof.
Presently he spoke again to Snippy, regarding the scenery, and to make amends for her previous coolness she answered him affably. Then there ensued an interested conversation, for Snippy was a cultivated and well-informed woman, and the young man was courteous and entertaining.
Besides which, he was greatly attracted by the two pretty girls and wished the duenna would bring them into the conversation.
“The young ladies,—have they visited Florence before?” he asked finally, in Italian, and Snippy felt in honour bound to pass the question on in English to eager Patty and Flo.
“We must answer prettily,” said Patty, with a demure face, though her eyes were dancing, “or else Snippy won’t let us talk to him at all. Say to the Signor, please, that we have never before been in Florence, and does he think we’ll like it.”
Snippy sniffed a little, but translated the message to the Italian.
“The Signor says,” she translated again, “that he is sure you will like Florence and Florence will like you.”
“Remark to him,” went on Patty, “that we thank him for his politeness, and we’d like to know if the gentleman who was with him in the other car is travelling with him, and what is his noble name.”