He repeated the message and then added as if by the merest chance: "Ze yong American man, signorina--you know his name ?" "Yes, I know his name." This time for the fraction of a second she surprised a look.

"His name--" she hesitated tantalizingly--"is Signor Abraham Lincoln." "Signor Ab-ra-ham Lin-coln." He repeated it after her as if committing it to memory.

They gazed at each other soberly a moment; then both laughed and looked away.
Luigi had appeared in the doorway.

Seeing no one more important than Tony about, he found no reason for delaying the announcement of dinner.
"_Il pranzo e sulla tavola, signorina._" "_Bene_!" said Constance over her shoulder.

She turned back to Tony; her manner was kind.