Page:Her Roman Lover (Frothingham, 1911).djvu/76

 “I am dreadfully sleepy,” said Margaret, “so I hope you are ready to go. It has seemed to me a dull evening.”

“Dull!” Anne could have laughed aloud.

Curatulo had followed the girl, and without looking at her he addressed Mrs. Garrison.

“Miss Warren has been good enough to say that you might find me useful as a guide to Rome,” he said. “Please consider me at your service for almost any day and hour you may wish. I can recommend myself as knowing almost anything the custode could tell you, and I have the added advantage of not costing a cent.”

Anne sent Curatulo an approving and delighted smile.

“Could we not go somewhere next Thursday, early in the afternoon?” she said, wishing to make his capitulation easy; and Thursday was arranged as a convenient day for all of them. They took leave of their hostess together, and he walked by Anne to that part of the large ante-chamber where an unnecessary number of maids and flunkies were waiting to hand them their wraps.

“I have yielded,” he said, “and I hope you enjoy your victory. Do not imagine, however, that all the victories are to be yours.”

The moment Margaret found herself closed in the