Ciccio slowly took it. The two men leaned to each other and kissed farewell, on either cheek.
“Tomorrow, Cic’—”
“Au revoir, Gigi.”
Ciccio dropped on to his bicycle and was gone in a breath. Geoffrey waited a moment for a tram which was rushing brilliantly up to him in the rain. Then he mounted and rode in the opposite direction. He went straight down to Lumley, and Madame had to remain on tenterhooks till ten o’clock.
She heard the news, and said:
“Tomorrow I go to fetch him.” And with this she went to bed.
In the morning she was up betimes, sending a note to Alvina. Alvina appeared at nine o’clock.
“You will come with me?” said Madame. “Come. Together we will go to Knarborough and bring back the naughty Ciccio. Come with me, because I haven’t all my strength. Yes, you will? Good! Good! Let us tell the young men, and we will go now, on the tram-car.”
“But I am not properly dressed,” said Alvina.
“Who will see?” said Madame. “Come, let us go.”