‘Let go my hand.’
He gazed pensively at the moon and hummed Santa Lucia under his breath.
‘Tony! I shall be angry with you.’
‘I shall be ver’ sorry for zat, signorina. I do not wish to make you angry, but I sink—perhaps you get over it.’
‘You are behaving abominably to-day, Tony. I shall never stay alone with you again.’
‘Signorina, look at zat moon up dere. Is it not ver’ bright? When I look at zat moon I have always beautiful toughts about how much I love Costantina.’
An interval followed during which neither spoke. The driver’s song was growing louder and the horses were galloping. The diligence suddenly rounded a curved cliff on two wheels. Constance lurched against him; he caught her and held her. Her lips were very near his; he kissed her softly.
She moved to the far end of the seat and faced him with flushed cheeks. ‘I thought you were a gentleman!’
‘I used to be, signorina; now I am only poor donkey-man.’
‘I shall never speak to you again. You can climb as many mountains as you wish with my father, but you can’t have anything more to do with me.’