"Indeed!" said the woman with the glasses.
"Yes, Signora."
"Ma," whispered the girl, "ask him for one of those buttons."
The stage-whisper was overheard by O'Mally. "These buttons," he explained, "cost a lira each; but if the signorina really wishes one—" And thus another lira swelled the profits of the day. O'Mally wondered if he ought not to keep this one lira since it was off his own coat and not Pietro's.
On the balcony of the villa appeared two women. The woman with the glasses at once discovered them.
"Who is that handsome woman?" she demanded.
O'Mally paled slightly. "That," touching his cap respectfully, "is her Highness, La Principessy d' Monty Bianchy, the owner of the Villa Ariadne." Ha! He had them here.
The tourists stared at the balcony. A real live princess! They no longer regretted the two lire fifty. This was something worth while.
"We did not know that the princess lived here."
"It is but a temporary visit. She is here incognito. You must not repeat what I have told you," was O'Mally's added warning.