I am convinced that this statement was as unintelligible to the duke as it was to me, but he laughed politely.
"I may be dropping down there a little later," he said. "In point of fact my home is not far from it—lovely old place back in the hills. I was born there!"
"That so?" said Mr. Pegg. "Well, you do talk English remarkably well!"
"I was educated at Harvard," said the duke. "My mother was an American, the daughter of the consul at San Remo."
"I knew you were a regular guy!" said Peaches, and then blushed furiously. The duke laughed.
"Thanks!" said he. "But I am an Italian, you know, really, and I love my country—as perhaps few men have!"
His eyes grew grave as he spoke. And after a few moments of curious silence that fell upon us unwittingly, he held up his hand as a signal to stop.
"We are coming into Deux Arbres now," he said. "There is the inn, and that trap looks as if it would take one to the château! I am a thousand times grateful for the lift!"
The car slowed down at Alicia's command, and the duke, despite our protests, insisted upon getting out.
"We could easily take you right to the ranch house—castle, that is!" Peaches offered.