Marcello stood at the window gazing down the broad valley.

Scarcely a minute elapsed before Folco came back with a handful of Havanas which he dropped on a writing-table.
"By the bye," he said carelessly, "there is another reason why you may not care to stay long in Pontresina.

The Contessa and Aurora are there." "Are they ?" Marcello turned sharply as he asked the question.
He was surprised, and at the same instant it flashed upon him that Folco had just received the information from Settimia in the note that had been brought.
"Yes," Folco answered with a smile.

"And Pontresina is such a small place that you can hardly help meeting them.

I thought I might as well tell you." "Thank you.