Philip still
remembered the laughter that had greeted his fruitless
journey, and the uncouth push that had toppled him on to the
bed. And whatever it might mean, Miss Abbott's presence
spoilt the comedy: she would do nothing funny.
During this short meditation he had walked through the
city, and was out on the other side. "Where does Signor
Carella live?" he asked the men at the Dogana.
"I'll show you," said a little girl, springing out of
the ground as Italian children will.
"She will show you," said the Dogana men, nodding
reassuringly. "Follow her always, always, and you will come
to no harm. She is a trustworthy guide. She is my
daughter."
cousin."
sister."
Philip knew these relatives well: they ramify, if need
be, all over the peninsula.
"Do you chance to know whether Signor Carella is in?" he
asked her.
She had just seen him go in. Philip nodded. He was
looking forward to the interview this time: it would be an
intellectual duet with a man of no great intellect. What
was Miss Abbott up to? That was one of the things he was
going to discover. While she had it out with Harriet, he
would have it out with Gino. He followed the Dogana's
relative softly, like a diplomatist.
He did not follow her long, for this was the Volterra
gate, and the house was exactly opposite to it. In half a
minute they had scrambled down the mule-track and reached
the only practicable entrance. Philip laughed, partly at
the thought of Lilia in such a building, partly in the
confidence of victory.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123