‘Is that you, Giuseppe?’ she asked in Italian.
‘No, signorina. It is I—Tony. I am waiting for orders.’
‘For orders!’ There was astonishment as well as indignation in her tone. ‘I thought I made it clear——’
‘That I was discharged? Yes, signorina. But I have been so fortunate as to find another place. The Signor Papa has engage me. I go wif him; we climb all ze mountain around.’ He waved his hand largely to comprise the whole landscape. ‘I sink perhaps it is better so—for the Signor Papa and me to go alone. Mountain-climbing is too hard; zere is too much fatigue, signorina, for you.’
He bowed humbly and deferentially, and retired to the steps and his cigarette.
CHAPTER XII
Half-past six on the following morning found Constance and her father rising from the breakfast table, and Tony turning in at the gate. Constance’s nod of greeting was barely perceptible, and her father’s eye contained a twinkle as he watched her. Tony studied her mountain-climbing costume with an air of concern.
‘You go wif us, signorina?’ His expression was blended of surprise and disapproval, but in spite of himself his tone was triumphant. ‘You say to me yesterday you no want to climb any more mountain.’