Do you think I can obtain a room for a--well, an indefinite period ?" Gustavo saw a dazzling vista of silver lire stretching into the future.
With an all-inclusive gesture he placed the house, the lake, the surrounding mountains, at the disposal of the American.
"You shall have what you wish, signore.

At dis season ze Hotel du Lac--" "Is not crowded, and there are half a hundred rooms at my disposal?
Very well, I will keep the one I have which commands a very attractive view of a rose-colored villa set in a grove of cypress trees." The others had waited in a state of suspension, dumbfounded at what was going on.

But as soon as the young man dipped into his pocket and fished out a handful of silver, they broke into smiles; this at least was intelligible.

The silver was distributed, the luggage was hoisted down, the omnibus was dismissed.

The courtyard resumed its former quiet; just the American gentleman, Gustavo and the parrot were left.
Then suddenly a frightful suspicion dawned upon Gustavo--it was more than a suspicion; it was an absolute certainty which in his excitement he had overlooked.