Page:The Popular Magazine v72 n1 (1924-04-20).djvu/13

 Captain Jimmy, happening to glance at the guide at the same moment, was surprised to discern a tightening of the latter's lips and a flash of disapproval in his eyes; but he cared nothing for these manifestations of distrust now that opportunity had so kindly thrown the girl in his way. They went out together and the shipmaster saw from the corner of his eye that his motor sailor had arisen and stood as if expecting the party to board the launch.

The girl and the guide had paused and were looking in a shop window and Captain Jimmy swiftly made a gesture signaling his man to return to the Adventure. The sailor stood a moment irresolutely as if expecting to receive some orders regarding the return of the launch to the shore, but, when Captain Jimmy somewhat impatiently repeated his signal, touched his cap and started his engine. Another plan had entered his captain's mind, which was that if he wished to become better acquainted with the American girl it might be necessary for him to become a guest of the hotel, something that he could scarcely explain if it were known that his ship was lying in the harbor, and he anything but a casual tourist. No, he decided, the tourist role was the one to adopt. And, as if his deception were to be aided, almost the first question the girl asked brought him in deeper.

“You are stopping at the Hotel Danieli? I think I saw you breakfasting there.”

“Yes,” he replied. “That is, I did breakfast there, although my luggage hasn't yet arrived. Yes, I am stopping there.”

“And I suppose you are touring, like so many of our countrymen do at this season of the year, coming for but a day or two, going, no one knows where?” she asked, but with such an evident lack of interest that he felt certain she was merely making polite conversation. It piqued him somewhat.

“No,” he answered, “I am not one of the rapid tourists. I like to take my time. Suppose I'm rather lazy in my sight-seeing. My stay is indefinite. It may be for but a few days or it may run into weeks. That depends on circumstances.”

As he strode beside her he was almost unaware that he was admiring her with sidelong glances until, happening to look at Pietro, he saw that the latter was fixing him with what he again took to be a look of distinct disapproval.

“Wonder what that boy has got on his mind and why he dislikes me?” the captain thought to himself, but speedily forgot this subject in conversation with his more charming companion.

“And I suppose that you too are here as a tourist?” he questioned.

To his considerable surprise her face suddenly lost its look of calm interest, hardened preceptibly [sic], and without looking at him, but frowning slightly at the pavement as if recalled to something, she replied, “No, I am not a tourist in the ordinary sense.I came here on—on a sort of mission.” And then with a quiet vehemence, and as if speaking impulsively to herself she added, “And I'll stay here too, until it's performed!” There was something like a threat against fate in her declaration that surprised him; but her manner warned him that to intrude with a question would be to tread upon dangerous ground, and at that moment the guide, as if purposely to create a diversion, called their attention to two historic columns of the palace through which those condemned to public execution had been led to death.

But once inside the palace Captain Jimmy found that whatever other matters she had on her mind, the girl was capable of becoming absorbed in the historic and artistic side of her surroundings and, furthermore, displayed an astounding knowledge of what she observed. Once she even disputed a certain point with the guide, compelling his admiration by her argument and making the captain feel woefully ignorant and somewhat “out of it.”

“You seem to be pretty well informed regarding the palace,” he suggested, smiling at her as she victoriously drove home her point.

“Me? I have known the history of much of this palace since I was a child,” she declared. “And I had reason to.”

He was tempted to ask her what that reason might be, but, as if wishing to avoid further questions she stepped across the great council hall in which they were standing and began to inspect at close range some of the adornments. Once again, when they were being led through the Bridge of Sighs with its terrible memories, she stopped and looked through the narrow window into the dark placid waters of the rio beneath, and commented, “There is a tradition that those who might never return were permitted to halt here and take their last look on daylight and the outer, world. Poor, unfor-