What was he saying? Malcolm watched and wondered; finally he arrived at the conclusion that he was making love after the most approved Italian mode, and became sensible of a flaming desire to go round and punch his sleek head. Poor Allessandro! he really was devoted to the lovely English Signorina. He could not sleep, he would not eat, he chiefly existed on cigarettes and her society--and yet he was a little afraid of his enchantress. She was so fascinating, yet elusive; always charming and gracious, but when he became sentimental she laughed with heartless indifference and brushed all his tender compliments aside. And then she was so rich! Mother of Heaven, what a fortune! With this girl, and her money, his existence would be heaven on earth. Good-bye for ever to insolent creditors, to third-class tickets, shabby clothes and undignified poverty. "Ah, Verona," he murmured, "you are called after one of our most beautiful towns; you ought to belong to Italy." "Do you think so?" she answered gaily; "then, in that case, you should belong to Turkey!" "I would ever belong to where _you_ were," he murmured tenderly. Miss Chandos merely helped herself to a salted almond. She had lovely hands. "Why were you called Verona?" he pursued. "I have not the faintest idea. I suppose they thought it more uncommon than Florence!" "Did you never ask them the reason?" he continued in his soft voice. "If by 'them' you allude to my father and mother, I am sorry to say I have not even a dim recollection of either." "Ah! So you are an orphan?" She bowed her head. "How sad! How I pity you!" he ejaculated. "Now _I_ have the good fortune to have a charming father and mother--my mother is a beautiful woman. How much I should like to make you known to her. I assure you she would love you as a--daughter." "It is very kind of you to say so, Prince." "She lives in a noble old castle. It still retains many splendid pictures and works of art. Perhaps you would visit her there one day? It has such a wonderful view, being high on the top of a mountain--almost in the clouds." "Almost a castle in the air?" suggested Verona. "Yes, yes, it is; and I, too, have my real castle in the air," he added with tremulous significance. "Oh, such an adorable one." This speech was accompanied by a long, intense look. "Don't you think these castles in the air cost a good deal to keep up?" remarked Miss Chandos. "I cannot afford to build them myself." Then she smiled her sweet smile, and turned away to address her left-hand neighbour. All this time Malcolm was inwardly fuming, although he was eating his dinner critically and carrying on a conversation with the lady beside him, a lady who was blessed with a copious stock of words and laboured under the delusion that she was a brilliant and dramatic talker. She speedily discovered that her neighbour had been in India, and plied him with opinions, suggestions and numerous questions with regard to native life.