Constance occupied the interval with the polyglot parrot of the courtyard. The parrot, since she had last conversed with him, had acquired several new expressions in the English tongue. As Gustavo reappeared with the eggs, she confronted him sternly.
“Have you been teaching this bird English? I am surprised!”
“No, signorina. It was—it was—” Gustavo mopped his brow. “He jus’ pick it up.”
“I’m sorry that the Hotel du Lac has guests that use such language; it’s very shocking.”
“Si, signorina.”
“By the way, Gustavo, how does it happen that that young American man who left last week is still here?”
Gustavo nearly dropped the eggs.
“I just saw him in the garden with a book—I am sure it was the same young man. What is he doing all this time in Valedolmo?”
Gustavo’s eyes roved wildly until they lighted on the tennis court.
“He—he stay, signorina, to play lawn tennis wif me, but he go tomorrow.”