They came hurrying up the steps and surrounded him, Mr. Wilder no less shocked than Gustavo himself.
‘Arrested—as a deserter? It’s an outrage!’ he thundered.
Constance laid her hand on Gustavo’s sleeve and whirled him about.
‘What do you mean? I don’t understand. Where is Tony?’
Gustavo groaned.
‘In jail, signorina. Four carabinieri are come to take him away. And he fight—Dio mio! he fight like ze devil. But zay put—’ he indicated handcuffs—‘and he go.’
Constance dropped down on the upper step, and leaning her head against the balustrade, she laughed until she was weak.
Her father whirled upon her indignantly.
‘Constance! Haven’t you any sympathy for the man? This isn’t a laughing matter.’
‘I know, Dad, but it’s so funny—Tony an Italian officer! He can’t pronounce the ten—’leven words he does know right.’