Maria Angelina looked up through her lashes in quick gayety.
"It is my first day, Signor!"
"Your first American—Ah, but on the boat! There must have been young men on that boat, American young men?"
"On that boat? Signor!" Maria Angelina laughed mischievously. "One reads of such in novels—yes? But as to that boat, it was a floating nunnery."
"Oh, come now," he protested amusedly, "there must have been some men!"
"Some men, yes—a ship's officer, some married ones, a grandfather or two—but nothing young and nothing American."
"It must have been a great disappointment," said Barry enjoying himself.
"It would not have mattered if there had been a thousand. The Signora Mariotti would have seen to it that I met no one. She is a very good chaperon, Signor!"
"I thank her. She has preserved the dew on the rose, the flush on the dawn—the wax for the record and the—er—niche for the statue. I never had my statue done," said Barry gayly, "but if you would care for it, in terra cotta, rather small and neat——"
Confusedly Maria Angelina laughed.