Page:The Popular Magazine v72 n1 (1924-04-20).djvu/12

 “That seat over there, please,” said Captain Jimmy in an almost confidential pitch of voice and was thereupon ushered to a seat beside one of the stained-glass windows in the front and, strangely enough, facing another small table at which was seated a young lady with auburn hair, now turned to burnished gold by the light of stained glass. To Captain Jimmy it appeared as if this were an aureole, saintly, glorious.

She was absorbed in a guide book and bestowed upon him nothing more than a cool, casual, indifferent glance before resuming her reading. He had ample opportunity to study her face. There was something about her distinctly thoroughbred, he mentally decided, and in addition to that a suggestion of purposeful independence and bravery. The chin was not that of a weakling and the mouth, although delicate, indicated anything but laxity of will. After that one sweeping, appraising glance she paid no more heed to him than if he had never existed, or never taken a seat at a neighboring table that faced hers. She was too oblivious to his presence for pretense and seemed wholly engrossed in some occupation of her own that was at least methodical; for, when her breakfast was concluded, she thrust the dishes aside with an almost masculine gesture, and spread a map, and with a guide book as reference began tracing certain routes with a tiny gold pencil that she produced from her pocketbook. Now and then she appeared to be in doubt, frowning, meditating and erasing some of the markings to supplant them with others. Captain Jimmy, quietly observant, wondered if all her tours were made in such purposeful manner. When she began to fold the map he hastily summoned the waiter, paid his bill, and without glancing at her sauntered out into the hallway, timing his movements so that he need not depart before she appeared. He saw, lounging in the hallway, the guide Sordillo whom he had overheard talking on the previous night and, even as the rustle of girlish garments behind gave warning of approach, stepped across and accosted him.

“I see by your badge,” he said, “that you are a guide. Perhaps you can tell me where I could find another guide known as Pietro Sordillo.”

At sight of him the guide frowned slightly, but if he recognized his interlocutor as the man he had seen on the previous evening in St. Mark's Square his handsome young face did not betray him. In English almost as flawless as Captain Jimmy's own he replied, with a slight bow, “At your service, sir. I am Pietro Sordillo.”

Captain Jimmy found the directness of the questioning eyes disconcerting, but succeeded in finding a somewhat stammering answer.

“I am a stranger in Venice, but a friend of mine whom you once served recommended you and—and I wish to engage you.”

“I am gratified, sir. And the name of your friend was”

“Farnham. Charles Farnham. An American; but I doubt if you will recall him. A Venetian guide must meet many people,” said Captain Jimmy, with the feeling that he was blundering and had made a mistake in so brazenly prevaricating to this slim young Venetian. “However, that doesn't matter. Are you engaged?”

For quite an appreciable time the dark eyes scrutinized him and Captain Jimmy could not read them.

“I do not remember the name Farnham,” Pietro said at last. “And, signor, I never forget names. But—I am sorry. I am regretful that I cannot be of service. I am bespoken. If I could”

“I seem to be the cause of all this,” a musical voice broke in at Captain Jimmy's side, and he saw the girl beside him, and immediately lifted his hat and bowed. “And I can understand why you particularly wished to engage Pietro Sordillo, for there are but one or two guides in Venice with his knowledge,” she went on, entirely self-possessed and speaking as one American might to another in a foreign land.

“That is what I have been told,” Captain Jimmy said, seizing at any straw for conversation. “I wished particularly to get him to conduct me through the Palace of the Doges.”

The girl's calm eyes studied him for a moment as if to assure herself that she was speaking to a gentleman and then she volunteered, “I was going there myself this forenoon. If you wish, you may come with us. It will not in the least discommode either the guide or me.”

“You are kind,” Captain Jimmy hastened to reply. “I accept, gladly, if you are certain I shall not prove an intruder.”

“Not at all,” she declared, and turned to Pietro with a gesture.