Immediately beneath where he stood, a trellised vine-walk led down to the lake, where the boats were usually in waiting; and from this alley now a number of voices could be heard, although the speakers were entirely hidden by the foliage. The gay and laughing tones indicated a pleasure-party; and such it was, bent on a picnic to Bellaggio. Some were loud in praises of the morning, and the splendid promise of the day; others discussed how many boats they should want, and how the party was to be divided. “The Americans with the Russians,” said Twining, slapping his legs and laughing; “great friends--capital allies--what fun! Ourselves and the O'Reillys.--Spicer, look out, and see if they are coming.” “And do you mean to say you'll not come?” whispered a very soft voice, after the crowd had passed on. “Charmante Molly!” said Lord Lackington, in his most dulcet of accents, “I am quite heart-broken at the disappointment; but when I tell you that this man has come some hundreds of miles to meet me here,--that the matter is one of deepest importance--” “And who is he? Could you make him come too?” “Impossible, _ma belle_. He is quite unsuited to this kind of thing,--a mere creature of parchments. The very sight of him would only suggest thoughts of foreclosing mortgages and renewal fines.” “How I hate him!” “Do, dearest,--hate him to your heart's content,--and for nothing more than the happiness of which he robs me.” “Well, I 'm sure, I did think--” And she stopped, and seemed confused. “And what, pray, was it that you did think?” said his Lordship, most winningly. “I thought two things, then, if you must know,” said she, archly: “first, that a great personage like your Lordship would make a very small one like this Mr. Dunn understand it was his duty to await your convenience; and my second thought was--But perhaps you don't care to hear it?” “Of all things. Pray go on.” “Well, then, my second was that if I asked you to come, you'd not refuse me.” “What an inexorable charmer it is!” cried he, in stage fashion. “Do you fancy you could ever forgive yourself if, yielding to this temptation, I were really to miss this man?” “You told me yourself, only yesterday,” said she, “_ce que femme veut_--Besides, you'll have him all day tomorrow, and the next, and--” “Well, so be it. See how I hug my chains!” said he, drawing her arm within his, and moving on towards the boat. “Were you to be of that party, Baron?” asked Dunn, pointing to the crowd beside the lake. “So I was. The Princess engaged me last night; they are going to the Plinniana and Bellaggio. Why not join us?” “Oh, I have a score of letters to write, and double as many to read. In fact, I have kept all my work for a quiet day in this nice tranquil spot I wish I could take a week here.”