“Have you ever been on that hill?” she flourished a hand in imitation of the man.
“No.”
“Well!”
“Well,” he smiled. “The view is there just the same—and the blue, too. If you don’t believe me, go up and see. I’m willing to stake my judgment to the extent of——”
He stopped so abruptly and smiled so mysteriously that she was attracted to say:
“To the extent of how much? You wouldn’t risk a dollar on your ‘glorious view’! Now, would you?”
He speculated for a moment. “No,” he admitted finally. “I wouldn’t risk a dollar on any of my views.”
“Ah!” she triumphed.
“A fog might come up,” he explained lamely.
“There!” said she. “Naples is over-advertised by sick poets. Look about you. It’s incredibly ugly—and smelly.”