A cloud of tobacco smoke and a wide spread copy of a New York paper concealed him from too impertinent gaze.

He did not raise his head at the sound of the opening door but contented himself with growling: "Confound your impudence! You might at least knock before you come in." Constance laughed and advanced a hesitating step across the threshold.
Tony dropped his paper and sprang to his feet, his face assuming a shade of pink only less vivid than the oleanders.

She shook her head sorrowfully.
"I don't need to tell you, Tony, how shocked we are to find you in such a place.

Our trust has been rudely shaken; we had not supposed we were harboring a deserter." Mr.Wilder stepped forward and held out his hand; there was a twinkle in his eye which he struggled manfully to suppress.
"Nonsense, Tony, we don't believe a word of it.

You a deserter from the Italian army?
It's preposterous! Where are your naturalization papers ?" "Thank you, Mr.Wilder, but I don't happen to have my papers with me--I trust it won't be necessary to produce them.