“Tell you what, Mrs. de la Vere,” he said, “if ever you come to Colorado I shall hail you as a real cousin!”
Then a silence fell between them. Bower was walking out of the hotel. He passed close in front of the glass partition, and might have seen them if his eyes were not as preoccupied as his mind. But he was looking at Stampa, and frowning in deep thought. The guide heard his slow, heavy tread, and turned. The two met. They exchanged no word, but went away together, the lame peasant hobbling along by the side of the tall, well dressed plutocrat.
“How odd!” said Mrs. de la Vere. “How exceedingly odd!”
CHAPTER XIII
THE COMPACT
“
Now, what have you to say? We are safe from meddlers here.”