"What? Who?"
"I see her face! I'm off!"
"Confound it! Whose face?"
But Buttons gave no answer. He was off like the wind, and before the others could recover from their surprise had vanished down the descent.
"What upon airth has possessed Buttons now?" asked the Senator.
"It must be the Spanish girl," said Dick.
"Again? Hasn't his mad chase at sea given him a lesson? Spanish girl! What is he after? If he wants a girl, why can't he wait and pick out a regular thorough-bred out and outer of Yankee stock? These Spaniards are not the right sort."
In an incredible short space of time the figure of Buttons was seen dashing down the piazza, in the direction which the carriage had taken. But the carriage was far ahead, and even as he left the church it had already crossed the Ponte di S. Angelo. The others then descended. Buttons was not seen till the end of the day.
He then made his appearance with a dejected air.
"What luck?" asked Dick, as he came in.