"That's the thing to do, of course. Why didn't we think of it? Come along." "Well, perhaps it is nice," said his wife doubtfully. "But we must call at the hotel and get waterproofs." "Nothing easier." "And I won't be led into any danger, mind." Bice still persisted that she must go back, indeed she was sufficiently Italian to think with horror of walking in the rain. At the foot of the stairs young Moroni was waiting, rather to everybody's astonishment; but he only said simply that he had heard the Signorina Capponi was here, and had come to see if he could be of any use. "What does he expect to do?" Bice whispered to Phillis. But she was smiling. The four ladies drove to the Alemagna, while the gentlemen walked, and then Bice went home alone, and the others fitted themselves out for their little expedition. Just as they came down, ready to start, Jack Ibbetson, with Cartouche at his heels, turned into the entrance passage. "The Tiber is rising," he said eagerly. "West tells me the sight out by the Ponte Molle is very striking. It struck me some of you might like to go there." "Well, yes," said Captain Leyton, pulling his whiskers. "We _were_ going to the Ripetta, but I don't know--suppose we make a bolder push. What do you say, Miss Penington?" "I think it would be much nicer," she said with great emphasis. "Then we'll do it." "You'll come?" said Jack, turning quickly to Phillis. It seemed to her afterwards as if she had been swept away by some impetuous force in his voice or manner. Was it the vibration of those words which she still heard, "Are you so blind? Don't you see that the one thing he cares for is to please you?" Was it true--at last? But the arrangement did not at all please Mrs Leyton. She said in an injured tone:-- "I think you are excessively disagreeable. You know I can't walk all that way." "We can drive some distance." "Oh, I daresay! I should have miles to tramp. And I had made up my mind to go to the Ripetta. Mr Penington, do you intend to desert me, also?" What could he say? He said "No," with a good deal of disappointment in the word. For the last few days it had seemed impossible to get any special sight or hearing of Phillis, and he had made this opportunity with the hope of speaking some words on which it seemed to him that the happiness of his life depended. It was hard to lose it. But Mrs Leyton had no intention of letting him go with them. "No, I thought not," she said cheerfully. "And I'm not sure that it isn't a good plan to separate. One can see things better. We'll meet by and by, and tell our experiences, if there is anything left of you, after this mad proceeding. But I predict we shall have the best of it." "That's all right, then," said Captain Leyton cheerfully. "Penington will take you, wife, and we four will start at once. Are you ready, good people?--thick boots, wraps, umbrellas?"