“‘Changed my mind. Do not come to Riva; stay in Valedolmo. Jerry.’”
“I’m a clairvoyant you see. I told you he wouldn’t be there!”
“But where is he?” Nannie wailed.
Constance and her father glanced tentatively at each other and were silent. Gustavo who had been hanging officiously in the rear, approached and begged their pardon.
“Scusi, signora, but I sink I can explain. Ecco! Ze telegram is dated from Limone—zat is a village close by here on ze ozzer side of ze lake. He is gone on a walking trip, ze yong man, of two—tree days wif an Englishman who is been in zis hotel. If he expect you so soon he would not go. But patience, he will come back. Oh, yes, in a little while, after one—two day he come back.”
“What is the man talking about?” Mrs. Eustace was both indignant and bewildered. “Jerry was in Riva yesterday at the Hotel Sole d’ Oro. How can he be on a walking trip at the other end of the lake today?”
“You don’t suppose—” Nannie’s voice was tragic—“that he has eloped with that American girl?”
“Good heavens, my dear!” Mrs. Eustace appealed to Mr. Wilder. “What are the laws in this dreadful country? Don’t banns or something have to be published three weeks before the ceremony can take place?”
Mr. Wilder rose hastily.
“Yes, yes, dear lady. It’s impossible; don’t consider any such catastrophe for a moment. Come, Constance, I really think we ought to be going.—Er, you see, Mrs. Eustace, you can’t believe—that is, don’t let anything Gustavo says trouble you. With all respect for his many fine qualities, he has not Jerry’s regard for truth. And don’t bother any more about the boy; he will turn up in a day or so. He may have written some letters of explanation that you haven’t got. These foreign mails—” He edged toward the gate.