Lanny hesitated. “Robbie doesn't want me to interfere, Beauty.”
“I know; but I'm asking. I have to think about both of us. If you had your choice — if you had nothing to consider but your own wishes — where would you go?”
Lanny thought for a while. His father could hardly object to his answering a straight question like that. Finally he said: “I'd go back to Juan.”
“You like it there so well?”
“I've always been happy there. That's my home.”
“But now there's going to be war. It mayn't be safe any more.”
“Those French warships will stay in the Golfe, I imagine; and it isn't likely anybody's going to lick the British and French fleets.”
“But Italy has some sort of a treaty with Germany and Austria. Doesn't she have to help them fight?”
“Italy has just announced that she will take a 'defensive attitude.' Robbie says that means they'll wait, and see which side offers them the most. That's bound to be England, because she has money.”
“Our friends all talk about going back to America. It'll be lonely at Juan.”